The conflict in Yemen makes headlines in international news, but a group of 16 Yemeni volunteer activists want to shed a positive light on the war-torn country by presenting its rich history and culture. The group started Yemen Used to Be in 2019 on social media and recently launched a website to expand their outreach, hoping to change the way people think about Yemen.
Volunteers Want World to See Different Side of Yemen
![Members of Yemen Used to Be, which is a local volunteer initiative dedicated to documenting art and history of Yemen beyond war. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)](https://gdb.voanews.com/2d4d908b-48f4-4be6-9e54-a5fb22ac00ce_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Members of Yemen Used to Be, which is a local volunteer initiative dedicated to documenting art and history of Yemen beyond war. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)
![Waleed al-Ward, a graphic designer and member of Yemen Used to Be, works on a project to document Yemen’s native food. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)](https://gdb.voanews.com/95740819-08db-4b2f-a1d3-ebd37de03883_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Waleed al-Ward, a graphic designer and member of Yemen Used to Be, works on a project to document Yemen’s native food. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)
![Ahmed Alhagri, the founder of Yemen Used to Be, speaks during a workshop in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)](https://gdb.voanews.com/02aeb1f4-e5c3-4f5d-83dd-81e27b208e5a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Ahmed Alhagri, the founder of Yemen Used to Be, speaks during a workshop in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)
![A label design of Yemen’s famous coffee bean, Mocha, which is named after the Yemeni port on the Red Sea that was a hub for trade. It is believed the Mocha bean was originally cultivated by Sufi monks in 1450. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)](https://gdb.voanews.com/3b38be58-c512-4cb8-860d-b412e2126545_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A label design of Yemen’s famous coffee bean, Mocha, which is named after the Yemeni port on the Red Sea that was a hub for trade. It is believed the Mocha bean was originally cultivated by Sufi monks in 1450. (Photo courtesy of Waleed al-Ward)