The Danish Embassy in Kenya and Somalia marked the successful conclusion of this year’s People Dialogue Festival (#PDF2024).
The festival, known for its vibrant atmosphere and open discussions, brought together civil society, academics, and the private sector. It was a space filled with laughter, passionate debates, and shared optimism for the future. The Danish Embassy highlighted the festival’s ability to foster meaningful dialogue and bridge divides through open discussions and critical questioning.
The importance of youth and gender equality was central to the festival. The Youth Village, Ni sisi Ni sasa Village (Ourselves Now Now Village), and discussions at the SDGs Village all showcased the active participation of young people and their reflections on Kenya’s progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Workshops at the Youth Sounding Board tent further emphasized inclusion, with a focus on empowering young people and achieving equality across all SDGs. A collaboration with Kewopa Kenya led to a panel discussion on inspiring inclusion, particularly for women with disabilities.
The festival also fostered international collaboration. The Culinary Corner exemplified this, featuring Kenyan students from Kenya Utalii College teaming up with Danish students to create innovative and sustainable snacks that address real-world challenges.
In closing, the Danish Embassy expressed gratitude to the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD-Kenya) for organizing the festival, and to partners Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD) and 2030beyond for their contributions. The message to all participants: “Tuonane mwaka ujao!” (See you next year!)