“Color the walls of your street” is a youth volunteer initiative which changed the silent walls filled sadness and despair to walls of hope and life.  Each walla tells a different story, and together they tell the story of Yemen.  From here we begin our road to the revolution of mind and cuture.  From here we begin to build our society.  to promote the rehabilitation of areas that underwent conflict through art.

To read a photo blog on this topic visit: Color Me a Wall 

 

مبادرة "لوّن جدار شارعك" مبادرة شبابيّة تطوعيّة حوّلت الجدران المليئة بالحزن واليأس الى جدران مليئة بالحياة والأمل. كل جدار يحكي قصة مختلفة وبألوانها العديدة تحكي قصة اليمن. لقد نطقت الجدران وبدأت تحكي قصة المجتمع. ومن هنا نبدأ طريقنا إلى ثورة الفكر والثقافة وبناء المجتمع.  .

"الفن هو الحياة، والحياة هي الحياة، لكن فن الحياة أن تحيا حياتك بفن" ( بيتر ألتنبرغ -   كاتب وشاعر نمساوي )

 

 

Despite the signing of the GCC initiative and implementing mechanism, thousands of protesters continue living in tents inside the change squres throughout the country pushing for their dream to become a reality, speaking out against the immunity clause, and demanding real comprehensive changes.  These few photos are a testimony to their unyileding spirit and amazing determination.

These portraits were taken in Amran in November 2010, in one of the camps for the internally displaced people of the Sa'ada conflict .  

This is just a reminder that these beautiful souls still live in the same place more than one year later, with limited access to basic services including health care and education.

 

 Summary of internally displaced people in Yemen (taken from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Cener (IDMC)'s Yemen page: http://www.internal-displacement.org/countries/yemen)

"In northern Yemen, conflict between the government and the Al-Houthi movement has affected more than 800,000 people since 2004, and caused repeated large-scale displacement. In early 2011, more than a year after a February 2010 ceasefire, more than 250,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) remained in protracted displacement.

In southern Yemen, continued fighting had internally displaced 91000 people in Aden, Lahj, Abyan, and Sana'a. Most new displacement in the south has been in the governorate of Abyan. The fighting between militants and government forces in Zinjibar displaced 13,000 people within Abeyan, 62,000 to the neighbouring governorate of Aden and 16,000 to Lahj. Close to 6,000 were displaced in September 2010 in Shabwa by con- flicts between Yemeni military and militants (IRIN, September 2010).

Intermittent violence in the governorate of Taiz reportedly displaced 1,000 people"

In the midst of violence and oppression, Yemenis continue tirelessly to demand freedom and a better life, even during the holidays. This Eid, people celebrated their resiliance, determination and strength, keeping the hope alive that change will com sooner or later.

These photos are taken at change square in Sana'a, Yemen on the first day of Eid al-Adha.

 

 

Like  every Friday since February, thousands of pro-democracy protesters went to the street today to call for change and demand an end to the regime.  As usual, pro-democracy protesters prayed Friday prayer on 60 road and a group of youth were engaged in a project called "messages to the world".  Protesters reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful resistance by hand painting on a white fabric 300 meters long.  This idea was initiated in Taiz, and is now being repeated in the capital Sana'a. 

After seven months of constant protests, electricity cuts, water and fuel shortage, price increases, regular political discussions, and constant worry, we decided to take a beak and sought refuge in the western Egyptian oasis of Siwa. An oasis with numerous springs in the midst of a sea of sand. It's simply a piece of heaven.

These photos are of the desert and the village of Siwa.

* Many of these photos are taken by my mobile, so photos may differ in size.

To read a short reflection piece on Siwa, visit http://womanfromyemen.blogspot.com/2011/09/freedom-and-slavery-desert-awakeni...

The signs & graffiti in Egypt remind us of the struggle for freedom and change that still continues months after Mubarak's resignation.