Sidewalk Talk

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Shadows and Light | Atiaf Alwazir

Traci Ruble
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Atiaf Alwazair is many things. Hopeless isn't one of them.

Based in Brussels, Atiaf is an activist, researcher, writer and mother using joy and memory to protect, uplift and empower the people of Yemen.

In this conversation with Traci, Atiaf opens up about the motivation behind her work and insights into the vibrant Yemen she knows. She shares her personal journey to achieving effective hopefulness and the importance of finding joy in the midst of tragedy.

Listen in for an opportunity to adjust your lens as Atiaf offers a snapshot of Yemen— sharing her love of Yemeni mint and pomegranate shafut and some of the daily traditions the world often overlooks.

Episode Timeline:

  • [00:09] Intro

  • [00:58] Meet Atiaf Alwazir

  • [05:21] Wrestling with guilt and privilege

  • [10:23] Resisting with memories

  • [14:00] Atiaf’s inner revolution

  • [18:10] Moving from apathy to effective hopefulness

  • [28:44] Women afternoon gatherings

  • [33:33] Yemeni Foods and Atiaf’s favorites

  • [36:50] Atiaf Alwazir’s wish for you

  • [39:13] Outro

Resources Mentioned:

Standout Quotes:

  • “War follows people. Yeah. And so even if you're safe, physically, emotionally… You're watching it. The places you love. being destroyed. You're watching your people that you love, living in fear. And you have nothing. You can't do anything about it. Right? So you feel this extreme sense of helplessness. And that's really, and a sense of, where do I belong? You know?” -Atiaf Alwazir  [10:47]

  • “The only thing I think we can control in this kind of situation is not to let our memories be kind of hijacked by all this blood... to really kind of challenge the mainstream and say, this is my resistance. You will not make me forget the Yemen I lived.” -Atiaf Alwazir [11:21]

  • “I think if you try to go, I don't know, well, I went in with the judgments but if we just try and really believe that there are other realities and not immediately judge people, maybe we'll be better listeners.” -Atiaf Alwazir [33:12]

Connect:

Find | Sidewalk Talk 
At sidewalk-talk.org
On Instagram: @sidewalktalkorg
On Twitter: @sidewalktalkorg

Find | Traci Ruble
At Traciruble.com
On Instagram: @TraciRubleMFT
On Twitter: @TraciRubleMFT
On Facebook: @TraciRubleMFT

Find | Atiaf Alwazir
At Crashbell.com
On Twitter: @Womanfromyemen

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