In the presence of the First Deputy Governor of Taiz, the Advisor to the Presidency Office, Najeeb Abdul Karim Abdul Ilah, the Head of the Media Department at the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Munir Al-Tabai, and the Director General of Mawiya District, the Heritage and Development Awareness Organization, in partnership with the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, concluded today, January 20, the training workshop “Media Content Production and Its Role in Enhancing Cultural Identity” at the Faculty of Arts, Taiz University. This is part of the project “Restoration Initiative for the historical Al-Qahira castle Conservation and Cultural Resilience Promotion ” , implemented by the organization Heritage for Peace and the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, Taiz branch, funded by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation #AFCP.

During the event, Dr. Abdul-Qawi Al-Makhlafi, the First Deputy Governor of Taiz, praised the efforts of Waeey Organization for Heritage and Development and the authority, as well as the importance of the training workshop conducted amid the difficult circumstances facing Taiz. He stated, “We should recognize that we have a #cultural_heritage in Yemen and Taiz, and we trust the youth of Taiz. These efforts herald the wealth of youth, and we have great hope in them to Re-establish Taiz as the capital of culture and as one of the most significant intellectual outputs of the Rasulid state.”

All attendees commended the importance of this qualitative training workshop aimed at enhancing awareness among youth about the significance of heritage and culture, enabling them to create impactful content that resonates with every citizen and instills pride in their historical cultural identity.

The workshop targeted more than 25 trainees from various departments of the Faculty of Arts at Taiz University, along with academic sector representatives from schools, media personnel in the districts, media activists, and those interested in the rich heritage and history of Taiz.

The training lasted for three days, starting on the first day at the historical #AlQahira_Castle, which included photographic presentations by the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, Taiz branch, about the most important historical landmarks in Taiz. The workshop was led by Mr. Waddahalyemen Aladeeb , who addressed various topics, including raising awareness among the trainees about the importance of heritage and antiquities, particularly culture as a whole. On the second day, the trainer discussed creative content writing methods, writing and publishing mechanisms, types of visual content, and its role in highlighting heritage issues. The trainees worked in groups to produce mini media projects reflecting the training inputs shared by the trainer. The training concluded on the third day with a presentation of the mini media projects developed by the trainees on the second day, as well as advocacy topics that included mechanisms of advocacy, building support, and effectively utilizing media efforts to serve advocacy that enhances the preservation of heritage and restores the historical cultural identity of Taiz.

The training included a group of students from the media and communication department, the history and political science department, and the Fine Arts and graphics department at the Faculty of Arts, accompanied by Dr. Muneer Al-Tubaea, Head of the Media Department, and Ms. Sama Al-Makhlafi, Director of Student Activities. The participating students displayed creativity and great interest during the three-day journey in producing content aimed at reviving the spirit of life in the heritage and culture of Taiz. They acquired creative writing skills that enable them to convey their voices to the community and local and international entities by creating visual content that blends the past and present while preserving the identity and heritage of the people of Taiz.

Mr. WadahAlyemen , the trainer, stated that this is one of the most important training workshops conducted, as it sheds light on critical issues that are almost forgotten in light of the tragic conditions in Yemen and Taiz, and the weak local and international focus on heritage.