What was the funding used for ?

The Shahrazad Cultural Foundation launched the Marassi project, which aims to integrate women into cultural policies in Yemen, with the support of the Roberto Cimetta Fund. The project is important because it discusses Yemen's cultural policies in light of the armed conflict in Yemen over three years. The symposium was held in March 2017 in the House of Culture in the capital Sana'a.  The seminar was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, represented by Ms. Hoda Ablan, Deputy Minister of Culture, who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. She praised the Shahrazad Foundation for encouraging and supporting civil society organizations working in the field of cultural policies. The presentation included a film about the Shahrazad Foundation and its objectives and activities. The Power Point presentation depicted the Marassi project and its objectives, project partners and stages of the project. The seminar was attended by Dr. Mona El-Mahakary, who manages the project and had signed a working agreement with the Roberto Cimetta Fund. The seminar activities were presented by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Hisham Ben Ali, who is known for his interest in cultural policies. Many people present had also participated in the Cultural Policies and Cultural Development Conference on 27/4/2013, which was the first conference of cultural policies, noting that the term "cultural policies" is a new term and cultural field in Yemen and still needs to be rooted and clarified because of its importance towards creating a cultural scene. The participants share the understanding that opinions of others should be respected and our own opinions should be pronounced. Thus cultural diversity can be respected and therefore this entails respect for marginalized groups, especially women, and takes into account the principle of gender equality and cultural development. This term "cultural policies" adopted by UNESCO was presented in a paper given by Hisham bin Ali in this international event on culture and science. The paper was then commended by the Director of Halisa Dr. Mona al-Mahakri. She confirmed her agreement with the paper and then handed the microphone over to the researcher and poet Nabila Al-Sheikh. Ms Al-Sheikh gave a speech. She also commended the first paper rich in statistics and figures. Then the researcher and educator Thabit Goutari, focused in his intervention on the presence of women in the educational sector and the impact of segregation between men and women in basic education and at high school which leads to outputs that are not qualified or creative and are not suitable with the requirements of the labour market. The opening of the symposium was made by the distinguished attendance of poets, representatives of civil society organizations, the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund, the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, and Nour Bahadad, head of civil society organizations in the Public Authority for Combating Corruption. The symposium concluded with poetry readings about women and their role in development by the famous poet Mohamed Abdel Salam Mansour, which was well received by the audience. The lectures were opened to the distinguished audience by Mr. Ibrahim Al-Moshaki, Deputy Minister of the Fund for Heritage and Cultural Development, and Mr. Ahmed Al-Baroot, Director General of Activities of the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund. The symposium suggested recommendations, and focused on the role of the Ministry of Culture and the role of the media in supporting the project "Anchors for the integration of women in cultural policies" and to promote the presence and participation of women in the cultural sector, and to thank Yemen TV channel, which is one of the most popular Yemeni channels. Our coverage in Yemen Today channel, broadcasted extensive news about the symposium in the main news bulletin. I spoke to the channel Dr. Mona Al-Maqari, who pointed to the importance of this symposium under the Saudi aggression, the internal political conflict raging in Yemen since March 2015. It is worth mentioning that on the sidelines of the event, a special exhibition was held for the famous artist Jamila Jamaan, who presented her wonderful collection about the popular women's costumes in Yemen, which expressed women and diversity in different governorates, which won the admiration of all and strengthened the presence of women as a worker and creative. The first phase of the Marassi project has been completed successfully by the inauguration of Marassi: for women in cultural policies in Yemen. The audience was invited to a reception, and the honorary shields and certificates of appreciation were delivered to the participants, and partners headed by the Roberto Cimetta Fund, the Ministry of Culture and the Fund, Heritage Welfare for Development, the House of Culture Hall, the media and journalists' compensation, and the activities of young volunteers. Effectiveness.

How did this funding contribution provide sustainability to your organisation and improve the quality of the implementation of your work ?

This contribution has been an immense support to Shehrazad Foundation and has helped us to continue and develop our work in Yemen.

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