The Green Zone Foundation promotes the learning of the Arabic language, a task in which the support of the Young Politicians network is vital to boost the project’s visibility. Photo: Redmun / GZF.

By: Yanela Soler

The Global Network of Young Politicians (Redmun) is recognized by the United Nations (UN) as an organization dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda. 

Founded on November 12, 2018 in New York City, its mission is to advocate for SDG-based democracy while encouraging minority participation in nation-building processes.

In this sense, the Network advocates the defense, promotion and safeguarding of democracy through public policies aimed at ensuring a more equitable distribution of the benefits of development in all spheres of life. This is achieved by fostering the social, political and economic engagement of youth on an international scale.

Redmun advocates for the defense, promotion and guarantee of democracy through the implementation of public policies that foster a more equitable distribution of the benefits of development in all spheres of life. Photo: Courtesy of Redmun.

As a non-profit and non-partisan entity, Redmun underlines its social and academic commitment, calling for the active participation of young leaders in decision-making processes at all levels to strengthen youth leadership worldwide. 

Beyond political activism, the Network facilitates the exchange of experiences, skill-building, and value-based training for its members, while also providing international support for their volunteer initiatives.

The non-profit and non-partisan nature of the Network guarantees its social and academic projection while demanding the active participation of those involved in the decision-making process at all levels. Photo: Courtesy of Redmun.

As the Green Zone Foundation aims to promote Arab language and culture beyond the Arab world, partnering with the Global Network of Young Politicians is vital and strategic to amplify and elevate this mission.

The collaboration between these two organizations is rooted in the fourth SDG, which strives to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” In addition, Redmun’s training programs align with GZF’s goal of empowering youth around the world through education.

The links between GZF and the Global Network of Young Politicians can contribute to the integration of young people from different latitudes in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.

Proficiency in Arabic will enable emerging political leaders to deepen their understanding of Arab nations: their customs, similarities and differences, traditions, identity, history, myths and legends, heroes and martyrs, as well as their internal struggles.

Knowledge of regional conflicts and their geopolitical implications can foster better dialogue and negotiation, especially on issues such as energy, human rights and counter-terrorism. In addition, since many Arab countries are leading economic growth and possess vast natural resources-especially gas and oil-language skills can open up new trade and investment opportunities.

The new generations will be interested in the world of politics and in learning more about the countries in this region of the planet thanks to their knowledge of the Arabic language.

Additionally, with increasing Arab migration to other parts of the world, linguistic comprehension becomes essential for smoother integration into multicultural societies.

Considering these factors, the alliance between GZF and the Global Network of Young Politicians can help unite young people across diverse regions in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape—one where Arab nations are gaining prominence.

GZF Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Omeyma Shiakh-eldin Gibril, and the President of the Arab Union of Cuba, Yaimé Proveyer. Photo: GZF.

By: Gabriela Sarmiento 

Green Zone Foundation (GZF), based in Qatar, held a conference-meeting on Wednesday, December 18, dedicated to the promotion of the Arabic language. 

The event took place at the House Museum of the Arabs, in Havana’s Historic Center, as part of the celebrations of the Arab Culture Week in Cuba. 

During the meeting, GZF representatives in Havana presented the institution’s initiatives aimed at building cultural and linguistic bridges between the Arab and Spanish-speaking communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.   

A highlight of the event was the presentation of GZF’s new online Arabic course, designed for anyone interested in learning this ancient language. The course will be delivered through AlifBee, a language learning application developed by GZF for learners of all levels, from beginner to advanced speakers. 

The meeting was attended by diplomatic representatives of the embassies of South Africa, Malaysia, Vatican City, East Timor, Zimbabwe, Poland and Nigeria accredited to Cuba, as well as regular collaborators and visitors.

The celebration honored not only the Arabic language, but also the rich cultural heritage and ancient wisdom it represents. Through innovative and attractive proposals, ties between the Arab and Hispanic worlds were further strengthened.

A dance show took place at the capital’s America Theater on the second day of celebrations of the Arab Culture Week, Havana 2024. Photo: GZF.

By: Gabriela Sarmiento

The Arab Culture Week continues in Havana as the event moved on to its second day of festivities with dance performances. This Sunday, the Ambar School of Traditional Arab Dances -directed by Idiamis Vivar, with choreography by Odalys Ruiz- together with the Cuban SoHo Company -directed by Grettel Llabre- were in charge of keeping the celebration alive.

At the America Theater, in the heart of the Cuban capital, expressive and rhythmic elements were fused, harmonizing dance movements with the sonority and musical influence of Arab culture. 

Both companies presented traditional dances from various Arab countries, such as Yemen, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon. A rich mixture of two apparently distant cultures converged through dance in perfect synchrony, uniting the Arab and Cuban spirit. 

The opening speech was delivered by the president of the Arab Union of Cuba (UAC), Yaime Proveyer, who condemned the genocide being perpetrated against Palestine. “From our homeland, we have chosen a powerful weapon: culture, which reaches everyone and ennobles life,” she said.

The President of the Arab Union of Cuba thanked the Green Zone Foundation for its work in promoting the learning of the Arabic language in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Photo: GZF.

The UAC president added that the goal of the celebration is to promote the legacy of Arab culture: “As long as each of us has a voice, the traditions of this ancient culture will live on, and we will never allow them to be silenced,” Proveyer said.  

She also expressed her gratitude to the Green Zone Foundation (GZF) for its work as an organization promoting Arabic language learning in Latin America and the Caribbean. Proveyer extended her thanks to its president, Darwish Ahmed al-Sheibani, as well as its director, Omayma Sheikh Eldin, and the rest of the team.

She further praised GZF’s efforts to establish a bridge of communication between the Arabic and Spanish-speaking peoples. Proveyer mentioned that the institution has developed a new application for online learning of the Arabic language, which will soon be available to all those interested in studying this ancient language.

The morning session featured performances by dancers Ayleen Rodríguez Fernández, prima ballerina of the flamenco company Ecos, and Amanda Rodríguez González, from the Cuban Soho. Photo: GZF

By: Gabriela Sarmiento 

The celebration of the Arab Culture Week, Havana 2024 began with a lecture by scholar Carlos Velázquez Fernández, “Flamenco dance in Havana: Exploring its connections with Arab dance.”

Velázquez stressed the importance of cultural exchange spaces to promote and preserve the Arab heritage and cultural legacy on the island. 

He told the audience that Havana was the center of reception and expansion of flamenco as an artistic tradition. It originated in southern Spain during the 19th century. 

Its roots run deep in the musical and dance traditions of Andalusia, particularly those of the Romani, Arab, and Jewish communities that inhabited the region for centuries. 

In this regard, he paid tribute to the late city historian Eusebio Leal for his tireless work and deep interest in Cuba’s cultural diversity and historical roots.

Speaking about Leal’s legacy, he said that “bringing people together, uniting them, was and has always been one of the guiding principles of Eusebio Leal, as well as of those who have directed the House Museum of the Arabs.”

The meeting was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lebanon in Cuba, H.E. Mr. Namir Noureddine, as well as representatives of the Green Zone Foundation in Havana. Photo: GZF.

The event was also attended by Yackeline Díaz Fuentes, director of the House Museum of the Arabs; Yaime Proveyer, president of the Arab Union of Cuba (UAC); representatives of the Green Zone Foundation in Havana; and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lebanon to Cuba, H.E. Mr. Namir Noureddine.

The morning was enlivened by dancers Ayleen Rodríguez Fernández, first dancer of the Flamenca Ecos company, and Amanda Rodríguez González, from Cuban SoHo. They harmonized their movements to the rhythm of tapping their feet, tapping their heels, snapping their fingers and clapping their hands in perfect synchrony with the musical influence of the Arab culture.

Thus began the celebration of the Arab Culture Week in Cuba with a touch of flamenco dance, an artistic expression that builds bridges between different cultural realities.

As the great Spanish flamenco dancer, actor and choreographer Antonio Gades once said: “Flamenco dance is an expression of the humble people, of the rich lands of Andalusia, of the incomparable Arabia, but with the flavor of Africa and America”.

The agreement between the two organizations made it possible to award 1,000 scholarships per country for the teaching of the Arabic language. Photo: GZF

By: GZF Editorial Team

Last November, the Green Zone Foundation (GZF) and the Global Network of Young Politicians (Redmun) formed a partnership aimed at implementing an educational strategy for the study of the Arabic language. It is intended primarily for young people in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The agreement signed provided for 1,000 scholarships per country for Arabic language learning through an online course. 

Classes will begin on Monday, January 6, 2025 and will initially run until April 6, completing a three-month period. Subsequently, this period will be extended to one year, during which students will be able to progress and complete the course at their own pace through the AlifBee app. 

To register for the course, GZF will provide a Google form where interested persons can submit their contact details. The Foundation will then send an email with an instructional access guide and the direct link to the platform. 

AlifBee will provide students with tools to develop the four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.  Students’ progress will be evaluated directly on the platform.

Upon completion of the course, the GZF will issue a certificate attesting that the students have mastered the necessary knowledge.

The proposal will give the opportunity to all young people who want to join the adventure of learning the language. Photo: Signing of online scholarships to learn Arabic in Colombia/GZF.

By: Gabriela Sarmiento

Green Zone Foundation (GZF) will launch next January a course for learning the Arabic language which will be taught through AlifBee, an application developed by the institution itself.

GZF has confirmed January 6 as the scheduled date for the start of the course with the new support that will enable an online experience tailored to the needs and requirements of each student.

AlifBee is designed for that purpose and can be used on any device, both for iOS and Android devices, being also available as a web application.

The curriculum consists of 10 levels, which gradually increase in difficulty. AlifBee helps the student to learn to read and write in Arabic, to understand Arabic speech and improve oral proficiency in the language.

The new tool meets the needs of anyone wishing to improve his/her Arabic language proficiency, from beginners to more advanced users.

Among its outstanding features is the learning of more than 6500 words, roots and phrases, as well as essential grammatical rules.

All the examples used to explain the new concepts are taken from real-life situations and cover various aspects of everyday life.

Its intuitive and user-friendly design makes the application the best ally to achieve the objectives set in the Arabic language learning process, whatever the level of the learner. Students will be able to register during the current month through a Google Form that will be made available soon through our social networks.

The press conference held this Friday at the Arab Union of Cuba served to provide details of the celebration. Photo: GZF.

By: Gabriela Sarmiento 

The Arab Culture Week in Cuba will be held from December 14 to 20 in the capital Havana. The event is sponsored by the Arab Union of Cuba (UAC), the House Museum of Arabs, and the private Qatari institution Green Zone Foundation (GZF).

The organizers, who offered details Friday afternoon, said the cultural week aims to revitalize and promote Arab cultural identity and heritage.

This is the first time that Cuba dedicates an entire week to celebrate the Arab Culture Week. The organizing committee has prepared a varied program covering literature, dance and language.

Activities will begin on December 14 at the House Museum of Arabs, where a series of lectures will take place to explore the Arab cultural heritage in Cuba.

For his part, Darwish Ahmed Al-Sheibani, president of GZF’s Arabic language education project, will deliver a speech via videoconference from Qatar on Wednesday, December 18, coinciding with International Arabic Language Day.

GZF announced Friday that it will launch an online Arabic language course next January through its app, AlifBee.

The institution has allocated 1,000 scholarships per partner country, including Colombia, Honduras, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, and others.

Arab Culture Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the love for Arab culture and identity.