Soccer, dust, dreams
A festival of feats in the heart of the Kenyan slums
The second China-Africa People-to-People Public Welfare Exchange Forum was held in Nairobi on Aug 7 as part of the carnival series.
Representatives from Chinese and African government departments, NGOs and youth groups discussed cooperation in areas such as education, health, women and children, and youth development.
At the forum, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said that grassroots organizations and groups focused on empowering women and youth can reach communities more directly and respond flexibly to local needs, complementing government-to-government cooperation.
Anne Wang'ombe, principal secretary for the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action in Kenya's Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, said the carnival is an example of how China-Africa people-to-people exchanges can create tangible benefits for communities. She called for such partnerships to be further developed through long-term community initiatives.
"Our progress is measured by the quality of life of the most vulnerable," said Rael Mutai, regional technical adviser at the United Nations Population Fund. Mutai called for partnerships that can bridge the gap between policies and the realities faced by vulnerable communities, reaching those "down to the last mile".
wuxiaohui@chinadaily.com.cn
