Al-Afif Cultural Foundation is a Yemeni Non-Governmental National Non-Profitable Foundation dealing with Science and Knowledge spread and Cultural Innovation. It was established by Mr. Ahmed Jaber Afif who bestowed it with all he owns. The Chairman and founder of the Foundation felt, during his formal and informal activities and works, the urgent need to make dense efforts to spread knowledge and science in his country which he lived and perceived the large gap between this country and the civilization, movement and progress of the era.
The constituent chairman irrevocably believes that Yemen renaissance and development cannot be achieved without focusing on knowledge spread and releasing potential capabilities, discovering and encouraging talents and stimulate to give, spread intellectual and cultural liberty atmosphere, giving chance to Yemeni man to explore himself and his country and enrich himself with exercise and knowledge and acquire experience and branches of knowledge to enable him explore its status in this world and to stimulate him to motivate the stand still status of his life through hardworking and diligence.
The Principles and thoughts included in the will of the founder might help us to understand inclinations of this pioneer cultural project. The will included the following:
First: The first issue to motivate the generations feeling and occupy their entity is that issue of progress in Yemen.
Second: The national action cannot be national unless targeting a radical shift in the social, economic & cultural composition of the country.
Third: It is not important to love the country or to be faithful in your intentions towards the country rather. What is more important is to endeavor with knowledge and awareness to change life towards progress.
Fourth: To immunize Yemeni mentality and national awareness against falsehood and collapse which is a national mission born by leaders and thinkers through generations.
Fifth: The necessary atmospheres should be adapted to release the Yemeni potential powers and provide capabilities to ensure accelerated growth thereof.
Sixth: Glories are consolidated only by fruitful national action and innovation prospers only in the shade true democratic life and aware cultural, scientific and knowledge grace.
The foundation chairman is assisted by a Council of Trustees made of a number of outstanding scientific and social persons, a Consultant Board of specialized people as well as an administrative staff supervised by an Executive Director. The foundation performs a pioneer and distinctive role in activating the cultural action. The foundation holds annually many seminars, sessions and musical, poetry and story nights, plastic arts galleries. The foundations published about 13 various books about Yemen. One of the major projects executed by the foundation is application of the First Encyclopedic Work of Yemen Nation and Country in Two Volumes pursuant to the scientific methodology of encyclopedia publication. Currently the foundation is preparing to publish the Second Edition in the Year 2000. And as reward to the youth creativity, Mr. Ahmed Jaber Afif established a yearly Reward on the name of “ALAFIF Reward” to be given to human & applied scince.
The foundation gives special attention to youth and women. It encourages their production and introduce them to the society through various activities. Also, the foundation is interested in education, children and environment issues and makes continuos efforts to create community awareness of the damages caused by art on various levels i.e. social, economic, health and ecological. The foundation conducted many sessions and published two books dealing with this subject.