Alia Mohammed – Women in Development and Peace
Due to the ongoing conflict, Yemen has witnessed tragic political, security, and economic conditions, pushing many Yemenis to migrate and seek refuge in other countries in search of better living conditions and educational opportunities. Among these, an increasing number of Yemeni women who have chosen to continue their education in host countries, while also taking on the responsibility of educating their children abroad and facing the challenges of adapting to a new educational environment.
This report discusses the importance of education for women and their families in the diaspora, as well as highlighting the main challenges and difficulties faced by migrant Yemeni women during their studies abroad.
Adapting to a Different Cultural and Educational Environment
Intisar Taha, one of the Yemeni women studying in India, believes that education is of great importance for Yemeni women at the individual, familial, and societal levels, due to the skills and experiences it provides, enabling them to gain job opportunities that lead to financial independence.
She added, “Education in the diaspora increases awareness of women’s rights, which enhances women’s participation in decision-making at the family and community levels and qualifies them for effective leadership roles in the societies they live in. Additionally, education contributes to changing prevailing social cultures about Yemeni women and elevates their social status, positively influencing the family and the community.”
She pointed out that the challenges faced by Yemeni women in education in the diaspora are multiple, with the most prominent being adapting to the environments and cultures of these countries.
Amal Nasir, a Yemeni woman who chose to live in Sweden, found moving to a new place vastly different from her Yemeni environment and culture to be a significant challenge. The most notable of these challenges was adapting to the Swedish educational system; she studies law there, and language was the biggest barrier for her. However, thanks to preparatory and support programs, she was able to improve her language skills and adapt to the new environment, excelling in her studies.
Regarding the adaptation of Yemeni families in the diaspora, Amal says, “Language and cultural differences are among the most significant challenges I face in education; many women and families move to host countries without mastering the local language, which makes adapting to the new educational environment difficult. Additionally, cultural differences also pose a challenge in adaptation, requiring a substantial amount of time to integrate into the new cultural environment.”
In a related context, (A. A.), one of the Yemeni female students studying in America, emphasizes that education in foreign and diaspora countries has a positive advantage in terms of the strength of educational methods used, which are presented in an enjoyable, easy, and modern way, unlike the methods used in Yemen.
Regarding the challenges that women might face in general in their education or the education of their children in diaspora countries, they are numerous, with the most prominent being cultural barriers and the difficulty of adapting to new curricula that might conflict with Arab and particularly Yemeni customs.
She says, “Education in foreign lands generally requires a lot of effort to adapt to different cultures, and what our children face the most is adapting easily to these cultures and curricula; the educational curricula in the host country differ from those prevalent in Yemen in terms of content and methodology. Additionally, the language used in the curricula differs from the familiar Arabic in Yemen, which places students before a significant knowledge gap that requires extra effort to integrate into the new educational system, even if it’s in an Arab country.”
She added, “Our upbringing on different principles, values, and cultures might not align with those of the host countries, sometimes causing issues in interaction. Also, the curricula include social and cultural values and concepts that might differ from those common in Yemeni society. Yemeni families face difficulty in finding a balance between preserving their cultural identity and adapting to new curricula, which is the biggest challenge faced by Yemeni families in diaspora countries.”
She pointed out that some countries impose ideas and cultures that may not fit with our religion and values, forcing families to prevent their children from continuing education; they might opt for distance learning or look for schools that fit with their values and culture.
Limited Access to Education
Arwa Muhammad, one of the Yemeni women who migrated with her family to Sweden due to the conflict, noted that there are many challenges and difficulties facing Yemeni women and their families in education, the most prominent being the high costs of education, the lack of necessary official documents for admission, in addition to discrimination and racism.
She says, “The cost of studying abroad forms a significant barrier, limiting the opportunities to get an education, which necessitates searching for the necessary funding for studying abroad. Even though there are some scholarships for Yemeni female students, these scholarships remain limited and do not meet all the needs for continuing education.”
She added, “Often, host countries impose strict restrictions on migration and residency, which limits the opportunities for migrant Yemeni women to access education continuously in some host countries; systems and restrictions are imposed that deprive Yemeni women of access to universities and specialized educational programs in those countries. This affects the process of completing their higher education and achieving their academic ambitions. Additionally, some Yemeni women face challenges post-graduation, such as the difficulty in obtaining their university documents except after complex procedures.”
Arwa also clarified that the discrimination and racism practiced against Yemeni women in some countries are challenges that limit access to proper education and affect their social, political, and economic lives.
She says, “Despite noticeable progress in women’s rights in some countries, Yemeni women still suffer from discrimination and racism because of their gender, facing discriminatory treatment, and their specific needs are often ignored. Moreover, many Yemeni women and families find it difficult to enroll their children in schools and universities due to restrictions imposed on foreign students, with discrimination in treatment and evaluation within classrooms due to cultural and ethnic affiliations.”
Solutions and Treatments for Educational Challenges
Providing support and empowerment programs contributes to giving women in diaspora countries the opportunity to complete their education through various scholarships for students, ensuring necessary funding, creating vocational training programs targeting migrant Yemeni women in various technical and professional fields, and language learning grants, especially in non-Arabic countries. Additionally, providing guidance and counseling services to help them adapt to the new environment and seize available opportunities.
On the other hand, international organizations and institutions are key partners in addressing educational issues for women in diaspora countries. These entities can provide financial and technical support, exchange successful practices by enhancing cooperation between host countries and concerned parties in Yemen, through signing memorandums of understanding and protocols that facilitate women’s travel for educational purposes in many specialties, offering necessary support, recognizing their educational qualifications, and establishing academic and training exchange programs. This significantly helps in empowering Yemeni women to benefit from all educational opportunities abroad, which in turn has a positive impact on their homeland.