CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ECONOMICAL WEALTH IN YEMEN
23-Nov-2008
We became part of the global village no matter where we are living, and no matter what we do to approach our standards for living. These are the headlines of messages which are published in advertisements by those who want to operate and expand their business activities in a wider range then in their original field of operation. It is in fact true, that modern instruments like the internet had a significant impact on life and its opinion by bringing all parts of the world into an ordinary screen as long as it is connected to the World Wide Web.

If you look at what is connecting people, whether if it is within their own environment or across several parts of our unique planet then you soon will realize that it is curiosity of human being which is connecting us. We invent instruments to help us understanding and handling issues at the same time we need to share these inventions to improve our economical conditions. So, to search about the differences between the species and to find a connection to dock-on and share different kind of habits (music sharing, discussion boards, etc.) is more a condition precedent for economy to develop and expand then just a Corporate Social Responsibility under the umbrella of charity. This process feeds our natural habits like the longing for information, attraction and for adventure.

When the great thinkers and Harvard graduates have thought about implementing a sustainable and workable free flow of cash by establishing the economical standards that well know by open capital markets they manufactured the shape of how globalization should work. The care about environmental concerns at that early stage of time was not on record and not part of the agenda of building financial capacities and guaranty of resources. This has caused the gap between social levels by ignoring the meaning of the economical responsibility into any society.

Some turbulence our village is having now caused a re-measuring of former established values and believes about the role of those who are members of the demanding process of invention, production and consuming. It became indispensable for any one operating in public to ignore the environment.

Here in Sana’a, the gap between developed economies including neighbored countries regarding the understanding of many life standards with its needs and its requirements is very high. But the economical developments are overwhelming the whole country by rocking the whole social levels either in their order or in their points of view. Unfortunately, the economical wave does not differ between who can handle and understand it, and who is overstrained by the amount of new information and new challenges through the changes happening. It is crashing into Yemenis as a matter of course to shape a new environment regarding to its needs.

Now, regarding to what has been mentioned earlier, and regarding to the economical impact that comes from understanding, isn’t it in our interest to support this society by maintaining its tradition and culture at the same time building bridges of understanding between the 5000 years old history and the new order? I say yes it is our duty to do this whether as a fish consumer, a history teacher, a history consumer (tourist) and as corporate who sees the Yemeni consumer as a potential buyer for their produced goods.

In this regards, I had the pleasure to be introduced to a unique organization here in Sana’a that has put the re-animation and the re-performing of the traditional and cultural treasures of Yemen on top of its list. This organization is called “Das Deutsche Haus für Zusammenarbeit und Kultur, Sana’a & Aden. Kooperationspartner des Goethe-Instituts” known here as (The German House).

The demanding activities of this institution were introduced to me by its Manager Mr. Guido Zebisch, who is in Yemen since September 2001.

After many efforts and hard work locally and abroad, and in corporation with international bodies, today, the German House is also operating through an office in Aden with 23 employees who support cultural events organized by locals as well as events invented and organized by the German House itself in corporation with local organizations and actors.

The German house is a meeting point for intellectuals in the country as well as a supporter to keep the cultural heritage alive and provider for the German speaking minority in Yemen by providing round table meetings with members of the economy for alumni’s who had spent a recent time in Germany and who are equipped with unique skills like Engineering or other Technical disciplines. But more than this, it is very strongly active in raising the awareness of the society in Yemen for the importance of their own cultural heritage, their traditional habits, how to place it in today’s changing environment and showing them through events how they can carry it into the future of this developing country.

Culture and tradition reflect the social identity of a civilization and prevent it from getting lost under the presence of the new order. This for, the effort of the German House in bringing this identity to rise and shine among the local population and among the international media has to be honored internationally as well as by Yemenis themselves. Otherwise, who is going to take the responsibilities in front of the future generations in this country when one day they come and ask about the origins of Sheba, the traditions of Ta’z and about the legends of the valley of Hadramout?

For further information’s visit:
www.dasdeutschehaus-jemen.org