Atiaf Z. Alwazir was born in Sana'a, spent her childhood in Beirut and Jeddah, and as a teenager settled in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. She currently lives in Brussels, where she is a research consultant by day and writer by night, with extensive knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), focusing on gender, human rights and the intersection of art and politics.

She has worked in non-governmental organizations and research institutions in Washington D.C., Cairo, Sana'a, Tunis, Beirut, Berlin, Lille, and Brussels, and carries each city with her, making her identify as a world citizen.

In 2011, she actively participated in the Yemeni Revolution, documented the events on her blog and co-founded SupportYemen, a storytelling collective.

Her articles have been published in several outlets including The Guardian, Foreign Policy, openDemocracy, Fair Observer, and Al-Jazeera English. She is the co-author of Change Square, a photo book on Yemen’s revolution.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Atiaf Alwazir: The other side of Yemen's war | Atiaf Alwazir | TEDxBerkeley

The other side of Yemen's war | Atiaf Alwazir | TEDxBerkeley

Stereotypes of war-torn Yemen overshadow its vibrant culture and human spirit, urging a shift to narratives of resilience.

Juxtaposing Yemen's dire situation with tales of hope, the narrative shifts from despair to showcasing indomitable human spirit.

Yemen's resilience shines as citizens, amid war, embrace life by sharing resources, celebrating love, and maintaining daily routines.