This photo essay was produced by members of the Al Jisr Collective.
ADEN, Yemen - Given the unstable living conditions in Yemen since 2015 when the war started, residents of the country have been suffering for many years.
The conflict has impacted leisure time among residents in the country. In Aden, many children play in the streets with the shortages of places to go and absence of neighborhood playgrounds.
We traveled around the city of Aden and talked to residents from different generations and backgrounds about how leisure time is spent in the city. Residents shared some of their stories and allowed us to document a few moments of their lives through the lens.
In Aden, you often see older residents sitting in cafés, drinking tea or coffee, talking with one another and watching people pass on the streets.
Though there are differences in the level of women's rights and independence from one region to another, you typically find men in cafés, as Yemeni society is dominated by customs and traditions of years past.
In coffee shops, older men play cards, dominoes and other local games.
Muhammad, 68, told us that he has five children and lives in the Crater area on the east side of Aden. “I like to play dominoes more than the other games because the numbers are more clear for my old eyes,” says Muhammad. “It is easy to play and exciting.” Muhammad said he likes to play dominoes almost every day and prefers to meet friends in the café to play cards or dominoes before the sun sets.
Many young people and teenagers spend time in Aden's narrow streets and side roads, playing soccer and simple local games, the most famous of which is billiards.
We spoke to Khaled, 23, who noted: "I have been playing billiards since I was eight years old. This game depends on concentration, not luck, as some people think."
Khaled and his friends have been playing this game since they were kids. Sometimes Khaled beats his friends, yet sometimes they beat him.
"This game is popular among young people because it does not require a lot of money,” Khaled said. “I also do not need a means of transportation to play billiards. I can play it in the street near my house."
Khaled and his friends who play billiards told us that this game has become a source of income for many families. They buy a pool table and charge small amounts of money from the players every day. In general, girls are not allowed to play outside the house in Yemen. It is rare to see young girls playing outdoors with boys.
Many other young people are more interested in playing “table football,” a game that simulates the game of soccer and allows players to manage the game manually.
We met Mohsen, 12, after receiving permission from his parents.
He told us that he and his friends are playing this game in the street almost every day because it is accessible and cheap. Just like billiards.
Al Jisr – The Bridge – is a collaboration among students and faculty from four public universities in Yemen and faculty and students at The University of Arizona. Students from University of Aden, Hadramout University, Taiz University, University of Saba Region and the UA are participating in this nine-month cultural exchange project that includes talking about media practices in Yemen and the U.S. Some student work is presented under the Al Jisr collective name for the security and safety of those contributors.