Daystar Students Participate in World Humanitarian Day 2026

Daystar University undergraduate and postgraduate students of International Relations and Diplomacy Studies attend World Humanitarian Day commemoration at World Vision.

By Dr. Justus K. Musya

[Nairobi: 19th August, 2026] Students pursuing MA in Diplomacy, Development and International Security, and BA in International Relations programmes at Daystar University participated in the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day 2026 held at World Vision in Karen, Nairobi.

The students were led by the Associate Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences, and Head of the Department of Peace and International Studies Dr. Justus K. Musya, together with lecturers from the Department.

The event was hosted by World Vision in collaboration with other humanitarian organisations from across Africa, bringing together humanitarian practitioners and stakeholders to reflect on the importance of humanitarian action, human dignity and the protection of vulnerable communities.

The engagement provided Daystar students with an opportunity to connect classroom learning with the realities of humanitarian practice. Through interactions with humanitarian practitioners and organisations, the students gained practical insights into the complexities of humanitarian response, peacebuilding, diplomacy and community engagement.

The engagement highlighted the following key lessons:

• Human dignity remains at the heart of humanitarian action, requiring compassion, respect and a people-centred approach.
• The principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence remain essential to effective humanitarian response.
• Partnership and collaboration among governments, humanitarian organisations, communities, academia and young people are critical in addressing complex humanitarian challenges.
• Young people have an important role to play in humanitarian action through research, advocacy, peacebuilding and community engagement.
• There is a continuing need to bridge academic knowledge and practical experience, preparing students to respond effectively to real-world peace, security and humanitarian challenges.
• The participation also provided an opportunity for Daystar University to strengthen its engagement with humanitarian organisations and to demonstrate the relevance of its academic programmes in preparing students for leadership and professional engagement in diplomacy, international relations, peacebuilding and humanitarian action.

The event reaffirmed Daystar University’s commitment to experiential learning, responsible leadership, peacebuilding and service to vulnerable communities, while providing students with valuable exposure to the work of humanitarian organisations operating across Africa.

The writer is the Associate Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences and Head, Department of Peace and International Studies at Daystar University.