Yousef El Miadi and Laura Brandt met while pursuing their master’s in World Heritage Studies at Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus, Germany. A joint project led Yousef and Laura to nominate the Jewish Quarter of Essaouira, Morocco, to the 2018 World Monuments Watch. Now, they... Read more
Included among the 25 sites on the 2018 World Monuments Watch were the Alabama Civil Rights Sites, a consortium of 20 homes, churches, and community spaces in Alabama that were at the epicenter of the African-American Civil Rights movement. Today, many are privately owned,... Read more
Rising on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, the city of Split—Croatia’s second largest city—is home to the ancient Diocletian’s Palace, sections of which have survived more than 1,600 years. Nestled in the city’s historic center, a small but vibrant Jewish community is the steward of the... Read more
The seventeenth-century Buddhist temple of Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya, Thailand, is considered the structure most emblematic of Buddhism’s influence on Thai society.
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Every two years, the World Monuments Watch issues a call to action for treasured cultural sites around the globe. Since 1996, when the Watch was founded with support from American Express, it has recognized 814 sites that face daunting threats or present compelling conservation opportunities, and... Read more
In 2011, Thailand experienced unprecedented rainfall, causing flooding and extensive damage to infrastructure throughout the country. Cultural heritage sites were greatly affected, including the magnificent temple complex of Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya. That same year, World Monuments Fund... Read more
On April 25, 2015, a major earthquake struck Nepal, taking the lives of thousands of people in the country and causing irreparable harm to others. With these tragedies, the country also faced widespread destruction of buildings, infrastructure, and scores of historic homes, religious sites, and... Read more