This May, Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi district captivated visitors with the vibrant energy and global solidarity of the annual World Village Festival. Centered around the theme of ‘Freedom’, the organizers delivered a timely message. Freedom, of course, means different things to different people. But for Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, freedom is the very essence of human progress. In his landmark capability approach, Sen argues that true development isn’t just economic growth, it is, “the removal of various types of unfreedoms that leave people with little choice and little opportunity of exercising their reasoned agency“. This belief lies at the heart of KENKKU.
SYL currently anchors its development cooperation through the EMPOWER 2 project, which advances disability inclusion in higher education across Ethiopia. For many disabled Ethiopian students, ‘unfreedoms’ take the form of physical and institutional barriers that deny them the basic right to pursue their education. It is a luxury many of us take for granted. By strengthening local university capacity and driving structural accessibility, the EMPOWER 2 project supports their perseverance and removes these hurdles. Whenever a student regains their access to higher education, they aren’t merely being supported. They are reclaiming their agency and freedom, and that is the true essence of development.
As KENKKU sets off for the academic year ahead, our mandate began on August 17th and 18th during our orientation at the SYL central offices in Lapinrinne. Representing six higher education institutions nationwide, our board blends fresh perspectives with experienced returning members. Together, this international team is ready to drive SYL’s global work forward. Our early strategy sessions revealed the passion of my peers. Poignant comments framing education as the ultimate equalizer and defending human rights as our shared ‘duty’ really cemented our collective energy. This year, our focus is on building a tehokas (effective and impactful) strategy: strengthening our communications, deepening our outreach, and ensuring student unions across Finland are actively engaged in KENKKU’s global advocacy.
Ultimately, development cooperation isn’t a distant, abstract concept. It is a shared commitment to expanding human freedom and agency, both globally and on our own campuses. As we begin this term, KENKKU is eager to bridge these global conversations with the Finnish student movement. Whether by following our project updates, joining our campus events, or engaging in local advocacy, we invite you to be part of this work. Together, let’s make global solidarity a living, impactful reality this year.
Teo Ramari
Chair of SYL’s Development Cooperation Advisory Board
