WAI at the Yemeni Embassy: Dialogue on the Middle East and Preparations for an Event Dedicated to Yemeni Culture

Welcome Association Italy, Assadakah, and IRIS Sapienza met with H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al-Toqi. The discussion focused on the situation in Yemen, regional prospects, and cultural ties with Italy. The Ambassador has given her approval for the initiative planned for November, marking the centennial of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Rome, September 25, 2026 – To deepen understanding of Yemen, discuss the situation in the Middle East, and promote culture as an opportunity for people and institutions to come together. With these objectives in mind, a meeting was held today at the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in Rome with H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al-Toqi, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to Italy.

The meeting was attended by Carlo Palumbo, representing Welcome Association Italy; Talal Khrais, representing the Italo-Arab Assadakah Association; and representatives of the IRIS Sapienza student association.

The discussion interwove current international events, cultural knowledge, and shared planning. During the meeting, the Ambassador expressed her support for the initiative planned for this coming November, dedicated to Yemeni culture and the 100-year history of relations between Italy and Yemen: an event designed to continue the dialogue and, above all, to bring the younger generations closer to the country’s history and reality.

Understanding Yemen in the Context of the Middle East

Part of the meeting was devoted to the current situation in Yemen and the broader Middle East context, providing participants with an opportunity for direct dialogue with Yemeni diplomatic representatives.

Addressing these issues requires attention, a willingness to listen, and the ability to delve deeply into the subject matter. Engaging in dialogue with a country’s representatives allows one to gain insight into its reality from an institutional perspective, ask questions, and better understand the context in which events unfold.

For WAI, events like this are valuable because they combine information on current events with opportunities for learning and building relationships. Engaging with a complex reality means taking the time to listen, distinguishing the different dimensions of the issues, and keeping people—their living conditions and their perspectives—at the center.

When we talk about Yemen, we must not limit ourselves to reporting on the conflict. It means recognizing a society, a history, and a cultural heritage that deserve attention even beyond the emergency. Understanding a country cannot be limited to the difficulties it is facing; it must also make room for the abilities, aspirations, and cultural expressions of its people.

From this perspective, the discussion at the Embassy made it possible to combine reflection on current events with a broader interest in Yemen, thereby preventing the country’s complexity from being reduced to a single dimension.

Italy and Yemen: Culture as a Space for Connection

In addition to current events, the discussion focused on the cultural aspects that can bring Italy and Yemen closer together, emphasizing mutual understanding as an integral part of the relationship between the two countries.

History, artistic heritage, the relationship with local communities, and the transmission of knowledge offer opportunities to bridge different perspectives. These are areas through which we can learn about a society, understand its expressions, and recognize the value it places on its own memory.

Culture allows us to build relationships that do not depend solely on current circumstances. It offers the opportunity to examine what a country preserves, produces, and passes on, opening up avenues for dialogue even at times when the international situation makes such dialogue more difficult.

This is not about erasing the differences between Italy and Yemen, nor is it about reducing their respective identities to superficial similarities. Rather, it is about identifying common ground from which to foster curiosity, respect, and collaboration.

Culture can thus bring international relations closer to people’s daily lives, transforming interest in a country into knowledge and that knowledge into a relationship that will endure over time.

For students, this perspective takes on special significance: learning about another culture means acquiring the tools to interpret the world, recognizing the diversity of experiences, and developing a greater awareness of one’s role in an international society.

In November, an event marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations

An important part of the meeting focused on preparationsfor the November event dedicated to Yemeni culture and the centennial of relations between Italy and Yemen.

This centennial provides an opportunity to revisit the history of the relationship between the two countries and to reflect on the prospects for its future. It is an anniversary that can bridge the past and the future, connecting the journey we have taken with the potential for dialogue among the younger generations.

The endorsement expressed by H.E. Al-Toqi marks a significant step in the preparation of the initiative. The aim is to provide an opportunity to combine the commemoration of this historic event with an understanding of contemporary Yemen and the promotion of its cultural heritage.

The centennial is not just a date to remember. It can serve as an incentive to understand what keeps a relationship between countries alive: institutional dialogue, certainly, but also cultural exchanges, education, and the relationships between people who choose to get to know one another and work together.

From this perspective, the November event aims to examine history without limiting itself to mere celebration, but rather by connecting it to the issues of the present and to the contribution that students, organizations, and institutions can make to the future of relations between Italy and Yemen.

The goal is to make this anniversary an opportunity for participation and deeper understanding, through which a wider audience can be introduced to Yemeni culture and the significance of Yemen’s ties with Italy.

Organizations and Students Engaging in Dialogue with Institutions

The presence of Assadakah and IRIS Sapienza, along with Welcome Association Italy, gave the event a sense of connection between diplomatic representation, the nonprofit sector, and the student community.

Student engagement is particularly important in a program of this kind. International relations are not just a subject to study, but also a field in which students can learn to listen, ask questions, and engage with different perspectives.

Bringing young people into contact with diplomatic missions helps make this learning experience more tangible. It allows them to meet representatives, understand the value of dialogue, and recognize how cultural knowledge is an integral part of the ability to interpret international events.

IRIS Sapienza’s participation is part of this initiative, providing a platform for students’ interest in a dialogue that connects current events, history, and culture. The contributions of Assadakah and Talal Khrais complement this journey of learning and dialogue with the Arab world.

The collaborative effort among the associations also provides an opportunity to give the event continuity: to transform the ideas that emerged into public forums for further exploration, in which students can play an active role in the learning process rather than merely being recipients of information.

The Commitment of Welcome Association Italy

For Welcome Association Italy, a union affiliated with FAST-CONFSAL, support for international students and citizens includes access to information, protections, and services, as well as the promotion of the cultural and social expressions of diverse communities and their relationship with institutions.

Participation in this meeting is part of this vision of hospitality. Supporting people on their journey in Italy means recognizing not only the challenges they face, but also the wealth of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives they bring with them.

A person is not defined solely by the needs for which they seek assistance, but also by the culture, skills, and aspirations they may share. Creating opportunities for these aspects to be explored is part of a commitment to participation and mutual understanding.

The dialogue with the Yemeni Embassy therefore represents an opportunity to foster relationships that can engage students, organizations, and institutional partners. The upcoming event in November gives this effort a concrete direction, where history, culture, and current events can come together.

For WAI, fostering these relationships means contributing to an environment in which international communities can be understood in all their richness and complexity, moving beyond a portrayal limited to their difficulties or emergencies.

Acknowledgments to H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al-Toqi

Welcome Association Italy extends its heartfelt thanks to H.E. Asmahan Abdulhameed Al-Toqi for her hospitality, her willingness to engage in discussion, and the attention she has given to dialogue with the associations and students.

We would like to express our particular appreciation for the support shown for the November initiative and for the opportunity to continue on a path that combines learning about Yemen with strengthening ties with Italy.

We would also like to thank the Embassy staff, Talal Khrais, and the Assadakah Italian-Arab Association, along with IRIS Sapienza, for their participation and contributions to the discussion.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of a country, recognizing its culture, and engaging young people in dialogue are concrete steps toward ensuring the continuity of