The Anna Lindh Foundation Swedish network will hold the eighth edition of Celebrating Our Diversity Forum on 30 September - 2 October 2026 at the World Culture Museum / Världskulturmuseet in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Theme: Building Democracy Together - role of civil society organisations in building and safeguarding democracy and democratic values.
Democracy does not exist. We make it. Democracy thrives when it is a collective effort where everyone can participate and contribute equally. In an era marked by polarisation, inequality, disinformation, wars, genocides, climate change and greed at the expense of our planet, the strength of democratic values depends on collective action—bridging divides, amplifying marginalised voices, and fostering inclusive participation. This year’s forum invites civil society practitioners and changemakers to explore how collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility can renew and sustain democratic systems. Together, we will talk about the urgent need for solidarity, innovation, and resilience to ensure democracy remains a living, evolving force for justice and equity.
We hope to offer you the following
- networking and creating new partnerships between members
- exchange of knowledge and expertise
- capacity building through the Practitioners Labs
- sharing initiatives and lessons learned by network members
- sharing opportunities by ALF or other Nordic donors.
What's new this year?
World café for sharing good practices and lessons learned.
Practitioners Lab workshops will be for 3 hours.
Programme*
Wednesday 30 September
- 12.30 - 13.30 Welcome lunch
- 13.30 - 14.00 Introduction to the Forum and the Building Democracy Together theme
- 14.00 - 15.00 Networking spin
- 15.00 - 16.30 Workshop "Strech Collaborations. Working together when you’d rather not." by Jotham Sietsma (Reos Partners)
- 16.30 - 17.00 Break
- 17.00 - 18.00 Panel talk: Democracy Doesn't Exist! We Make It.
- Associate Professor Steven Wilson, Director of Varities of Democracy (V-DEM) Institute, University of Gothenburg
- Professor Noha El-Mikawy, former Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University of Cairo
- Vinus Dubashi Tiger, Climate Activist, Climate Live Sweden and Livegreen
- 18.00 - 19.00 Dinner at World Culture Museum / DJ Felipe aka Baldor
- 18.50 - 19.00 Storytelling performance, Kiriaki Christoforidis
- 19.00 - 20.00 Concert: RUST Duo - رَست (Electro tarab from Syria/Lebanon)
Thursday 1 October
- 09.00 - 10.00 Introduction to day 2 and networking break-outs
- 10.00 - 11.00 World café (round 1)
- Ticktock by Neil Bell, bMECTE
- Mansophere in the Global South by Sarah Kaddoura, South Feminist Futures
- Foreign-born votes in Swedish elections by Eyad Shehab, Sensus Studieförbund
- Why true democracy needs everyone by Ceyda Berk-Söderblom, Trans Europa Halles
- Grassroots empowerment paradox by Tania Petrachkova Bauder, ProQvi
- More Than One Story by Seth Selleck, Simrishamn Municipality
- 11.00 - 12.00 World café (round 2)
- Higher education institutes' role in safeguarding democracy by Martin Säfström, Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Studies, Stockholm University
- Clown camp: lessons learned by Donna-Maria Maalouf, Clowns Without Borders
- Kvinna till Kvinnas Leadership Programme: lessons learned by Amanda Moore, Kvinna Till Kvinna
- How Civil Society Helps Young People Find Their Place in Democracy by Hristina Nikolova, Roteract Club Malmö-Lund
- Identity, belonging and the way we show up together by Zeinab Hefny, Zeina Coaching Company
- 12.00 - 13.00 🅻🆄🅽🅲🅷
- 13.00 - 16.00 Practitioners Lab / capacity building workshops (incl. 15 mins break)
- Workshop #1: Stronger Together: Civil Society, Trust, and the Work of Democracy by Tolulope Olalekan (Africans Arise)
- Workshop #2: Community-led spaces by Zeinab El Saneh (Folkets Hus Hammarkullen)
- 16.00 Group picture
- 16.00 - 17.00 Visit World Culture Museum (tour of TATAU - Freedom | Identity | Memory exhibition)
- 18.00 - 20.00 Dinner in town
Friday 2 October
- 09.00 - 09.30 Introduction to day 3 and opportunities from ALF
- 09.30 - 12.30 Practitioners Lab / capacity building workshops (incl. 15 mins break)
- Workshop #1: Place-based methods for driving community change by Márton Rátkai & Abbas Sbeity (Creative Insights Studio)
- Workshop #2: Democracy in Action: Using tension as connection by Tali Padan (Mellem Education)
- 12.30 - 13.30 🅻🆄🅽🅲🅷
- 13.30 - 14.30 Imagine the Future Utopia. Facilitation: Karin Bruce (LärOlika)
- 14.30 - 15.00 Building Alliances
- 15.00 - 15.30 Feedback and recommendations
- 15.30 Departure / Hejdå / Salam
* Ongoing updates in the programme.
Celebrating Our Diversity Cultural Evening
30 September 2026 at the World Culture Museum - Världskulturmuseet
Logistics
The Swedish network will cover the travel by train/bus, accommodation in single room (up to 2 nights) and meals for one participant only per member organisation.
Official language of the Forum is English.
For information/questions
Rasha Shaaban - ALF Coordinator in Sweden
This Forum is organised and hosted by the ALF Swedish network coordinator, the National Museums of World Culture with the support of the Anna Lindh Foundation, European Commission, the Swedish Ministry of Culture.
Special thanks to the support from the ALF Swedish network advisory committee members: Karin Bruce (LärOlika), Alaa Munir (Ungdomsfronten) and Ceyda Berk-Söderblom, Trans Europa Halles (Lund)