"Café Kyiv 2024 – We Choose Freedom" was a collaborative event organized by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and over 100 partner organizations, drawing in around 5000 attendees. Taking place for a second time since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the event was bustling with workshops, discussions, salons, and cultural activities, centered around themes of freedom, security, and reconstruction. As partners, we contributed to the event with three inputs from our side.
The first component was a simulation game «EU Security: Outlook 2024», in which participants took on the roles of the heads of the EU member states. Within the EU Council setting they tried to shape the next steps of the EU in realms of security, sanctions against Russia, and military support to Ukraine. The discussions were very intense and showed the complexity of negotiations at EU Summits.
Together with Schüler*innen Helfen Leben, we also co-hosted a panel on Youth Empowerment for Ukraine's Recovery, featuring Anastasiia Halyko, project coordinator at CRISP, and Violetta Kukuruza, our European Solidarity Corps volunteer and co-founder of NGO Dakh.
Anastasiia presented our U-Power project, which supports girls in participation processes and taking over leadership roles. By investing in their education and leadership skills, we cultivate a generation of young women who can drive positive change and contribute to rebuilding their country. Additionally, empowering these girls also fosters a sense of belonging and agency, incentivizing their eventual return to Ukraine with the skills to drive positive change.
Another highlight of the day was the possibility of disseminating a physical copy of our recent publication “Ukraine in Focus: Recognizing propaganda, understanding facts", dedicated to disinformation about Ukraine. Renowned experts from Ukraine and Germany offer arguments and recommendations to deepen the topic for both the German-Ukrainian and the inner-German dialogue. This is not a history monography, but a clear handbook in which readers will find data, facts, and information to support them in the classroom and in discussions. The book was published by our colleague Kateryna Pavlova with Nataliya Pryhornytska from Open Platform e.V. with a kind support of the Berlin Regional Centre for Political Education.
We extend our gratitude to all the partners and organizers of Café Kyiv 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to standing with Ukraine and addressing challenges together. We also appreciate the opportunity to collaborate and be part of this meaningful event.
