SILVER SPRING, Md. —An online blog written by a program manager of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Yemen has sparked a documentary about Yemeni culture and history seen through the eyes of ADRA’s work in that country.

Alan Delmonte, a native of the Dominican Republic, has been writing for several months about his impressions of Yemeni life in his blog titled, “Un año en el desierto: Anecdotas desde el corazón de Yemen”, or “A Year in the Desert: Anecdotes from the Heart of Yemen,” which details his experiences with the local culture and his work with physically disabled individuals in Hais, western Yemen.  

One frequent visitor to his blog has been José Enrique Pintor, a Dominican writer and film director who works for Grupo Corripio, a private holding company that owns investments in the country’s mass media industry, including several television channels, radio stations, and daily newspapers. While reading Delmonte’s writings, Pintor thought to direct and produce a six-part documentary focusing on Yemen’s rich culture.

“Through Alan we have been able to experience the fascinating traditions, history and culture of this Middle Eastern country, as well as the great humanitarian work ADRA is currently involved in,” said Pintor.

Last week, Pintor, who has written and produced several feature films, including Sanky Panky and La Cárcel de La Victoria: El Cuarto Hombre, which have both earned international attention, arrived in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, with a crew to begin filming.

While in Yemen, Pintor will document ADRA’s work at several sites throughout Yemen, including projects in Hais, Basateen, Kharaz Camp, and Sana’a. He also plans to travel to Hadramawt and Ibb in central Yemen to capture other facets of local  culture and traditions, and to portray the impact that ADRA has had on existing   communities in the area.

The documentary is expected to be released in several countries, including the Dominican Republic, Spain, and France.

“The project also aims to change any misperceptions that exist in regards to the Middle East, emphasizing Yemen’s beauty through its rich culture and history,” said   Nagi Khalil, country director for ADRA Yemen. “We as an agency are very excited about this initiative, and are happy to support the team in all of their objectives.”

To read Delmonte’s blog, go to www.desdeyemen.blogspot.com.

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ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill