Since 2022, when the war in Ukraine broke out, about 41,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Denmark, approximately 10,000 of whom are young people struggling with the uncertainty about their future, which for many is a significant challenge to navigate. However, many of these young people are also working hard to create a good youth life despite their background in war and insecurity, with help from, among others, Crossing Borders.
Crossing Borders’ program ‘Empowering Ukrainian Youth’ helps ease the transition for Ukrainian youth from being refugees waiting for help to becoming hosts and co-creators in local meeting places as a foundation for integration into Danish society, including in schools, clubs, and various associations.
The goal of the program is to create a safe space where everyone is welcome, and where connections to the surrounding local community are fostered. The idea for these local meeting places came from a workshop held by Crossing Borders in December 2023, where more than 50 young Ukrainians from across Denmark participated and expressed a strong desire to create meeting places that are inclusive of all cultures and nationalities.
The initiative is starting in Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, and Copenhagen, with the hope that it will eventually spread to more municipalities in Denmark.
The Egmont Foundation supports Crossing Borders’ work to educate and empower young people across nationalities to become active citizens. Specifically, we are supporting Crossing Borders’ project ‘Empowering Ukrainian Youth’ over the next two years with 2 million DKK, so they can help even more young Ukrainians in Denmark through, among other things, workshops on well-being, culture, education, and the job market, thus supporting them in developing concrete life skills and building bridges to the local community.
