Kenya, Ukraine National Libraries Sign Knowledge-Sharing, Cultural Cooperation Deal

Jukwaa

📻 Breaking It Down

The agreement was signed in Nairobi during the launch of East Africa’s first Ukrainian Bookshelf at the Kenya National Library Service, an initiative Ukrainian official said is designed to deepen cultural understanding and counter disinformation through literature and education.

Speaking during the ceremony, Ukraine Ambassador to Kenya, Yurii Tokar described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Kenya and Ukraine.

“Alongside the opening of the Ukrainian Bookshelf, we are also witnessing the beginning of institutional cooperation between the national libraries of Kenya and Ukraine through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between our institutions,” Tokar said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The ambassador said libraries play a critical role in connecting people, preserving culture and promoting dialogue between nations.

He noted that the Ukrainian Bookshelf initiative, launched under the patronage of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, now spans 72 countries and hundreds of libraries globally.

Tokar said the Nairobi bookshelf would allow Kenyan readers to understand Ukraine beyond headlines linked to war and geopolitics.

“In recent years, millions of people around the world have come to know Ukraine through the news and through the resilience of our people. Yet that resilience did not appear overnight. It is deeply rooted in our history, culture, language and identity,” he said.

The partnership agreement is expected to facilitate exchange of publications, professional expertise, digital resources and joint cultural and academic programmes between the two institutions.

Ukraine’s Director of the Department for Africa and Regional African Organizations, Liubov Abravitova, said the cooperation signaled growing humanitarian and cultural ties between Ukraine and African nations.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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