Motivated by how Danes play the game of politics,surprised by the possibility of technology and moved by the Danish people Antony Kochiyo round off his visit to this small kingdom by authoring a love letter to her... nice read

1. This week I have been quietly reflecting on a recent visit to Denmark, where I
attended a training of trainers’ course, one of the first sessions we had, through
the able hands of our skilled facilitators,was a discussion aroundcritical pedagogy.
- a truly illuminating experience for most trainees who appreciated that we can
assist our generation to move away from the bondage of strict “teacher know it
all” education system, to the liberty of a more participatory and friendly
approach.
The nourishment of pleasantries from the classroom menu, served so
professionally by our experienced facilitators, who took up the challenge of
training fellow trainers, the excitement of meeting trainers from all other
platforms, as well as the face by face interaction with colleagues whom we only
knew by their tiny podio faces…..Each and all made thistrip a worthwhile
investment.
As a GP trainer from Kenya, being in Copenhagen platform makes you feel like a
catholic monk in his maiden visit to the Vatican City.
Like other trainers, I understand thattraining4changeprogramis not the burden of
any one platform alone, but I understand too that MS-DK had been called upon to
meet a special share of this programs’ challenges.
As the platform that is probably the mother of others, it has fallen to her totackle
training needs at home, to protect the promise of change abroad and to seek to
work with the poor whose lives are too often threatened by injustice, and whose
rights are too often denied by power holders. It is a duty that she discharges with
a dignity, determination and distinction that are widely admired.
There was no feeling more soothing, than to interact with the members of staff
and volunteers of this great platform in a team building activity that involved
going round the city and later eating together.
But beyond the platform and action aid, I stretched my eyes across the bigger
difference that this nation had for me and my country Kenya.
Denmark is a unique country in many respects, covering an area of 43,094 square
kilometers and a population of 5.6 million, this Nordic land of the famed Vikings,
isslightly smaller than Garisa Country (one of Kenya’s 47 counties).

2. There is this amazing air of humility, simplicity and contentment around the
Danish people that is just so humbling and inspiring in equal measure. From top
leaders in government to ordinary people on the streets, you sense that these
people have managed to break the chains of prejudice, pride and fear of big ones
in the society.
You notice this in simple things like the “haves” not showing off asand the“have
not’s” not asking for sympathy, and in complex relations like the spirit of mutual
respect that define competition between political parties and politicians.
Our visit to parliament provided a unique opportunity for us to come face to face
with the huge history that surrounds the politics of this tiny Northern European
kingdom.
Danes are manifestly patriotic people and fiercely loyal to their country. A rocky
history of victory and loss in battlefields has instilled in the people a strong sense
of close-knit nationalism.
“Alovely land is ours with beeches green about her”, rings one of her 2
recognized anthems. Written in 1819 and edited after wards, the anthem has
lived through the sands of time and still defines Danish national consciousness.
It is evident in the conduct ofDanes that these are not just impressive words and
clichés. The spirit in all these slogans seems to throb at the very heart and soul
ofthe nation. There were equally profound lessons from how Danes play the
game of politics. Political parties, founded on distinct ideological platforms define
political mobilization and activity.
Our own vision 2030(Kenya’s development blue print till 2030) would best fit in
Denmark since it prescribes an issue based, people centered, result oriented and
democratic political stile…
Gender
Electing its first female prime minister in the last elections, the country has almost
all the important political offices held by womennow. Indeed, women head all of
the three government parties - the Social Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party

3. and the Social-Liberal Party. The government’s supporting party in parliament, the
Red-Green Alliance, is also headed by a woman.
And of cause the queen is a woman – well this also could meanthat many
important decisions in government in this country get to the ear of the nation
from the soft voice of powerful women, no wonder then that the country has
beauty as a theme everywhere, or so I thought…-From the display of goods at the
shopping malls ,the color codes of the buses as well as the man made sceneries of
the city, all of which come with somereasonable amount of beauty.(not to say
though that men like ugly things) the good thing with this was not how the
women are happy that they were empowered here, but how the men were
comfortable with it. Indeed Denmark too has had its own history of patriarchy as I
would come to learn.
Services
With an electric and computer driven train spiraling its way beneath the cities’
ancient buildings and a wide tarmacked biking space for the thousands of cyclists
around town, a reliable and efficient bus transport, Copenhagen has kept its
streets free from the congestion of car traffics and subsequently succeeded in
creating and maintaining a modern state of the art transport system that makes it
possible for residents to be perfectly punctual,maintaining an admirable culture
of time consciousness.
Harvesting wind to generate and export energy, and maintaining the world’s
highest minimum wage, creating an extraordinary bridge to narrow the gap
between the rich and the poor, the country is not just the home of (renown
poet)Hans Christian Andersen, but seems to be living one of his fairy tales,severally rated the happiest people on earth, thecitizens are pretty and
prosperous, the land is green and fertile, the towns are colorful and squeaky clean,
the queen is beloved by her people and reins from the oldest monarchyin Europe.
The country maintains a Nordic welfare model with universal healthcare, higher
education and comprehensive social security system. The unemployment benefits
are combined with free educations and training programs, a significant element
that the system relies greatly upon.

4. its ancient history still preserved in the cities architectural design, with most
buildings dating back to the 18thcentury, itsman-made lakes giving an artificial
breeze thatblends so well with the hot and long summer days, its people aware of
law and order as a culture to live other that a rule to follow, its citizen paying one
of the highest taxes under the sun but proud of it all the same, the city of
Copenhagen has redefined beauty and given it a new meaning.
To go to Copenhagen without having the famous carnal tour is like to go to Las
Vegas and fail to benefit from the amusement of the Bellagio fountains, for the
tour is more than just a boat ride, but goes beyond the maritimeatmosphere
along the royal palace, it is avoyage thattransports you back to many centuries
agoas you sail through the length of Danish rich history and thebreadth of her
valuable heritage
Love at first site is the best way to describe how I felt with this nation, and after
agood bye party hosted by my former participants, a bicycle trip around the town,
I quickly passed by the cemetery to lay a wreath on Hans Christian Andersen’s
graveyard and there I did a love letter to this nation.
********************
Dear Denmark.
Standing beneath the serene sky of thy summer’s warmth, with the Cyprus trees
now swaying around me and the graves of our brethren’s beneath our feet.
It is not without hesitation that I have to depart from your bosom and go back
home, your people have been no less than friendly, your weather no less than
welcoming,yourarchitecture so divine and your culture so intense
In the richness of your history, in the ambitions of your plans, in the strength of
your democracy, in the efficiency of your systems, in your hopes for tomorrow
and your pride for yesterday, I was honored, to bask in the glory of your
hospitality.
Bye Freya’s home.
Bye and Love you.

5. **********ENDS**********