Testimonials

From HESHAM

I'm Hesham Ahmed Awdh Al-ZaBidi, I'm 22 years old. I was born in 1991. I've graduated from high school and I'm working now as an actor in the Cultural Center of Al-Hodeida governorate. Though my work, I got several certificates of appreciation for acting some posts in theatre. I've got also a coach certificate, from Mr. Omar Abu Saada, on the interactive community theatre. I've a hobby and skill to act and I've a sense of responsibility. I like to be always the first.

Before working in the WESAL project, I thought that rural woman has the freedom to say "NO" for something she doesn't want as what happened in cities. Through field surveys, however, I knew that she is oppressed. I become sure of such results of surveys when I did some theatre performances, belonging to the project, there. What made me happy is to remember the first theatre performance we did in Al-Hodeida governorate in 6 December 2013 and I was its joker. When it was time of performance display, I went up to the stage and I looked at the audience to be surprised when I saw my colleagues everywhere. Some of them were among the audience in an attempt to calm the audience, some were sitting to guard our things and others tried to encourage me. They were all working as a beehive, every one of them has something to do. It was a very wonderful scene to see most of them working before me while some others were working behind. Though all obstacles we faced to do such performance, it was one of the most beautiful ones I've acted in.

My viewpoint now is that oppressed woman can say loudly "NO" to face everything she doesn't want with the assistance of the competent authorities. This problem should be solved in the city, the countryside or any country. Finally, I've a full conviction that woman is half the society and she must be respected and treated as partner of men in everything.

From ADNAN

I'm Adnan Nasher Al-Absi, born in 1967 in Al'boos area. I got my primary and secondary education in Al-Hodeida governorate and then I've specialized in the Islamic Studies, Faculty of Education in 1992/93, in Al-Hodeida. I participated in more than one festival (Local- Arabic) as an actor. I also acted as a director in many theatre performances, dealing with social and political issues, displayed in all the Yemeni governorates 2007- 2010.

However, working in WESAL project is an important transition in my professional and personal life starting from the first training workshop on knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the gender – based violence issues in Bajel and Zaydia districts. We've then worked in the field study to get results of various forms of violence against women in target villages. The three most important topics afflicting women in the target districts were: early marriage - girls' education - domestic violence. My experience has expanded from being a joker in the project to a coach in the same project. This experience has a deep feeling in myself and it's considered the most important station in my professional life, particularly when we saw the team we've coached displayed a typical theatre sketch.

I'm now convinced that the interactive community theater is the most important and powerful method of raising awareness and making change. The more sincere convictions we have, the more effectiveness we've to change perceptions and wrong behaviors.

Success stories

Quotes of people during the sessions

Hesham Al-Zabidi
"I can reflect information of this workshop in my job as a theatre actor and in my daily life. I can also raise awareness of those around me about the importance of communication and understanding others. Sure my skills in communication has improved."

Tareq Al-Faiz
"We are in need to this art of communication in my life because it is related to our daily dealings with others. I can now say that I know how to speak, listen and deal with others. I can also reflect skills I get here in my life.

I'll take advantage of this workshop by educating the society, where I live, on women's rights. I'll try to transport the workshop's message to my family, friends and all other people."

Zahwan Al-Absi
"I'll translate all what I learned and absorbed in this workshop in my field life through theatre. I'll also reflect it to others in good way to be able to advocate women's rights."

Tariq Al-Fayez

"I was in need to such an experience because I like theatre so much and also what is related to communication with people. Through WESAL project, I feel like I do an important and useful thing to me in the first place and then to my community. WESAL project makes me believe more in women. I'm always against that statement saying "women is half the society", however, she is the whole society. We spent in WESAL unforgettable days and they'll stay inside us for the rest of our lives."

Ahlam

She mentioned that she liked the type of the interactive theatre which is different from the other theatre.

Adnan Al Shameri

"When the audience came to the stage and act instead of one of the character to put solutions this is a new technique and different from the theatre we know."

Nabil

"There are many different issues conducted through this kind of theatre and what made it close to the audience was the accent they use for Al Hodeida people .Some of these performances were good and the other needs more practices."

Abdullah

He said that he like the role of the Joker which is very important because he helped the audience to link events in the theatrical text, and making them more interaction in their views and put forward solutions to some problems under discussion.

Huda Abdullah, Director of legal protection project in Al Hodeida

She said that the performance of WESAL project was one of the successful performances conducted .This was because the new technique they used which depend in the interactive with the audience to discuss the problems that women face and how they can find some solution to them especially early marriage.