This day is marked every 21st February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The day was acknowledged by UNESCO on 17th November 1999. In 2009, the Ethnologue acknowledged existence of 7000 distinct spoken languages in the world. Kenya boasts of 68 spoken languages.
Languages play an inherent value in education and development. Our cultural diversity and numerous languages is an immense resource for our nation. Our cultural practices could have a negative or a positive contribution to environmental management.
Some suggested activities
1. Organise a public awareness week for communities to exhibit about their cultural diversity and languages. Note the role played by the natural environment.
2. Invite reknown linguists and scholars to sensitize the community members on contribution of African languages in education and development.
3. Organise for an exposition of proverbs and idioms
4. Invite the elders from the community to share with the younger generation their cultural heritage.
For further assistance, please contact
Kenya National Commission for UNESCO