The Shawthab Foundation for Childhood and Development (SF) in Yemen has produced a series of educational children stories under the name, “In the Happy Yemen.” The foundation aims to embody the situation of children in Yemen.

Shathwab strives to make these cartoon films accessible to children all over the country. The foundation has started distributing 700,000 copies to many schools in the capital Sana’a, as well as in Aden, Abyan, Shabwa, Hadramaut and other governorates.

According to the foundation’s website, SF “is a civil society organization whose mission is to promote women’s and children’s rights and encourage their development in every aspect of life through education, social health and human rights.”

Maryam Al-Shawafi, the executive manager of the foundation, said the purpose behind producing such cartoon films is to promote positive thoughts in line with the Yemeni community and the Islamic religion.

The film concentrates on the values of kindness, charity, acceptance of others, tolerance, equality and science, she said.

“We attempt to instill good values that benefit children and discuss their problems,” Al-Shawafi said.

Amta Allah Hassan, a student at Um Salama school, said the cartoon was very interesting.

“I was happy when receiving one copy of it, and what I liked in this cartoon is it targets deaf children,” she said.

Hassan said she liked Yemeni traditions that were present in these cartoons, like the Jambiya and the clothes.

Mohammed Al-Ojaili, a student at Al-Kuwait school, said the cartoons discuss children’s issues in a lovely way.

He said using 3dD MAX technology to produce these cartoons made them very attractive.

“Sana’a streets and houses were shown in a very good way,” he said.

The foundation created the filmwithsupport from the U.S. embassy in Sana’a.

“It’s crucial for all of us to support Yemeni NGOs in their efforts to help children embrace the importance of both education and non-violent conflict resolution,” Lou Fintor, the embassy’s public affairs officer, said. “The Government of Yemen, in partnership with NGOs, is also working hard to build educational programs that encourage peaceful dialogue. The United States, along with Yemen’s international partners and friends, is proud to be able to assist in these efforts.”

He added, “Yemen’s children are Yemen’s future; children are a country’s most important resource. By investing in efforts that raise both awareness and literacy, we are helping build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Yemen.”

Previously, Shawthab produced films highlighting the trafficking of children to Saudi Arabia, the dangers of carrying weapons and sexual harassment toward children.

Al-Shawafi said she hoped there would be a series of educational cartoon films that will discuss all of children’s rights in an interesting manner.

 "I hope T.V. channels will cooperate with us and broadcast these cartoon films in order to make them reach a further multitude of children," she said.

Salah Al-Jumaei, a psychology professor at Sana'a University, commended such a step. Al-Jumaei said such films call for tolerance, cooperation and science. Such films have a great, positive impact on a child’s psyche, he added.

The screen impacts children, he said. Al-Jumaei said 95 percent of cartoon films instill violence in children's behavior.  

Abeer Mohammed, a mother of four children, said she does her best to prevent her children from watching on-screen violence, though she faces difficulty considering the carton films screened on many T.V.stations.

"My children imitate all that they watch on cartoon films."

Missa Al-Amiri, a private sector employee, said her two children have started to behave in a”weird” way and use “strange” words.She said this is so due the influence of what they watch on television.

Al-Jumaei said he is hopeful that these cartoon films will be within the reach of all children.

"I wish all institutions and civil society organizations will follow the lead of the Shawthab Foundation in regard to this business."