What happens to everyday life — work, families, and futures — when a country faces years of conflict and economic uncertainty? And how do women create new opportunities for themselves and their communities in the middle of war?
Join Dr Elizabeth Mills (University of Sussex), and Sussex alumni Dr Alia Aghajanian (World Bank) and Dr Aparna John (World Bank) for a thought-provoking session on how women entrepreneurs in Yemen are changing gender dynamics, navigating economic instability, and building businesses in one of the world’s most challenging contexts.
Drawing on Yemeni women’s powerful photographs and stories, we’ll share research that challenges some common assumptions. While conflict should be understood as mainly destructive, our research shows that it can also create unexpected opportunities for social and economic change. We also rethink empowerment, not as a single moment or endpoint, but as a spectrum shaped by social, economic and political limitations and opportunities.
This session is for sixth form students taking Economics, Business Studies, Sociology, Geography, Politics, Religious Studies, and Philosophy, and current University of Sussex students and staff.
In this session you will:
- learn how academic research is carried out in real-world conflict settings
- learn how qualitative and visual methods can be used alongside economic analysis
- learn how global institutions like the World Bank, work alongside universities such as the University of Sussex to influence policy.
Travel to campus
Our campus is well connected by public transport, including buses and trains.
If you or someone else is driving you, you can use any of the visitor parking spaces on campus.
Student ambassadors will be at the campus entrance to welcome and signpost you to the Library and the Sussex School for Progressive Futures space.
Travel bursaries
Bursaries are available for sixth form students only to support travel costs. Please keep proof of your travel ticket to claim the bursary. We will provide you with a form and information on how to claim for the travel bursary at the event.