By Hala Salem, YES 2012-2013, Israel (Arab Communities), hosted by ASSE in Philadelphia, PA

In honor of International Mother Tongue Day, YES alumni from the Arab Communities in Israel hosted an evening at a local cafe in Haifa. The event began with a lecture from the well-known literary professor, Farouq Mowassi on the changes that have occurred in the Arabic language over the generations. After that, a local poet performed a poetry recitation, which was accompanied by local musicians. The alumni organized the event to raise awareness about the intricate beauty of the Arabic language, the changes the Arabic language is facing, and the importance of learning and speaking one's mother tongue. In addtion to that, we also used this event to promote the YES program to the youth who attended and to teach them about how they could apply next year.