Crossing Borders

We are excited to share that Crossing Borders and Union KBH will be hosting an Anti-racism Conference! Together, we will reflect on the progress made through the EU-funded Anti-racism and Civic Courage Training (ACCT) project and outline the way forward in combating intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination. Therefore, this conference will not only highlight the important initiatives underway but also serve as a platform for sharing best practices and strengthening our collective fight against racism.  The Anti-racism and Civic Courage Training (ACCT) is a comprehensive initiative designed to tackle racism and other forms of discrimination through an intersectional approach. The project focuses on providing both online and offline educational tools that empower participants to stand out against intolerance and foster a culture of civic courage. These trainings, conducted in collaboration with civil society organizations (such as Crossing Borders) have taken place across five countries, targeting both urban and rural areas.  The conference will feature a blend of keynote speeches, panel discussions and performances, where you will hear from experts on topics such as “Diversity as Anti-racism in the workplace” by Garba Diallo, the director of Crossing Borders, and “Intersectional Approaches to Social Sustainability” by Shayi Addean from Another life. Moreover, expect to engage in thoughtful discussions about critical topics such as the role of the arts in fighting racism and how grassroots movements can shape global anti-racist efforts, with insights from various organizations like Rapolitics, SOS Racism and Refugees Welcome. In addition, some performances will take place from powerful artists such as Zozo or Fire Raka.   Conference Schedule  14:00-14:10 – Arrival 14:10-14:15 – Welcome from Union KBH 14:15-14:30 – Introduction to the Conference and ACCT Project Results 14:30-14:45 – 1st Keynote: Diversity as Anti-Racism in the Workplace by Garba Diallo, Crossing Borders 14:45-15:00 – 2nd Keynote: Intersectional Approaches to Social Sustainability by Shayi Addean, Another Life 15:00-15:15 – Coffee Break and Snacks 15:15-15:30 – Dance Performances by Skole for Orientalsk Dans & Zozo 15:30-16:15 – Panel Discussion: Cultural Resilience: The Role of Arts in Deconstructing Racism 16:15-16:30 – Coffee Break and Snacks 16:30-16:45 – Theater Performance: Blinkered 16:45-17:30 – Panel Discussion: Grassroots to Global: Building Anti-Racist Movements 17:30-17:35 – Break 17:35-17:50 – Rap Performance by Fire Raka 17:50-18:00 – Closing and Thank You  For more information, reach out to Andrew Gibbons, Project Coordinator, at andrew.g@crossingborders.dk.  Hope to see you there for a thoughtful day surrounded by community-building and creativity! Don’t forget to book your free tickets. Book Now

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.

Last Thursday, on the 11th of October, our Food for Thought monthly event was hosted by the presence of Mette Müller Kristensen, the Director of Global Focus. Global Focus stands as a unifying platform of Danish associations committed to international development, environmental initiatives, and humanitarian efforts. Mette’s role as a member of the 2030-panelet further underscores her dedication to supporting the political advocacy of the 2030 network and advancing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  Mette’s extensive experience and deep knowledge of both Danish and global civil society underscore her impactful contributions to the realm of international development. Her dedication to amplifying diverse voices, promoting inclusivity, and advocating for sustainable change resonates profoundly in today’s interconnected world. Through her unwavering commitment to bridging gaps and fostering meaningful collaborations, Mette is an immense inspiration for driving positive change on a global scale. With a Master’s degree in African Studies from the University of Copenhagen, Mette has a wealth of expertise in international development cooperation, advocating for Leave No One Behind initiatives, and fostering meaningful civil society engagement. For the past five years, she has spearheaded the international efforts of Danish organizations focused on empowering individuals with disabilities, while also leveraging her nuanced understanding of Global Focus.  During her enlightening talk, Mette shared insights into her remarkable journey, rooted in a transformative exchange experience in Tanzania. It was in this moment that the stark contrasts between her native Copenhagen and the realities of other nations became vividly apparent to her. Despite her initial aspirations to work in political science, the opportunity to visit Tanzania through a political party initiative marked a pivotal turning point in her career path.  Mette emphasized the profound significance of grassroots organizations and highlighted the importance of inclusive decision-making processes, particularly shedding light on the perspectives often overlooked within the Western context. Her vivid examples, such as the juxtaposition between Africans who have never experienced a safari versus Western tourists, served as poignant illustrations of the disparities in global experiences.   In conclusion, Mette’s compelling narrative and insightful perspectives have illuminated the vital importance of inclusive global engagement and the power of grassroots initiatives in shaping sustainable development. We feel very grateful for sharing her enriching experiences and valuable insights with us during our Food for Thought event. Her passion for advocating for marginalized voices and her dedication to fostering positive change serve as an inspiration to us all. Thank you for joining us on this enlightening journey – your presence has truly been inspiring!  – By Sara Montes Martínez, Intern at Crossing Borders

On Thursday, the 19th of September, we had the opportunity to welcome another guest to share his story as part of the Food for Thought initiative by Crossing Borders in Copenhagen: Jesper Højberg. Jesper has had a fascinating journey, transitioning from journalism to consulting and eventually founding his own venture, IMS. In 1998, Jesper was sent to the Middle East by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as an advisor to the Ministry during the war in Yugoslavia. In the late 1990s, he returned to Denmark after working for the UN for four years in Africa, where he witnessed both the transition in South Africa and the genocide in Rwanda. By 2001, he was able to return to media and journalism, and simultaneously start IMS, a fledgling organization that received funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. IMS (International Media Support) is a non-profit organization focused on media development. It is the largest of its kind in the Nordics and works to strengthen media’s capacity to reduce conflict, promote democracy, and facilitate dialogue. Today, IMS, with Jesper as its Executive Director, operates in more than 30 countries across four continents, promoting press freedom, good journalism, and the safety of journalists. Currently, 200 people from 52 different nationalities work for IMS. For Jesper, impartial and honest information plays a vital role, and this is what IMS stands for. In his view, free media is essential for healthy societies. Journalism should present different perspectives and give a platform for diverse voices to be heard and empowered. He also believes that youth and civil society are key players in these processes and that building networks and friendships is incredibly useful. As journalists reproduce information, Jesper emphasizes the need for mutual trust with locals. He learned this firsthand in Kabul, where he realized that staying involved and showing commitment was essential to gaining the trust and respect of the local community. As an anthropologist, Jesper understands that deep involvement and presence are crucial—development cannot just be words. This is also why IMS includes local community members on its board. Another critical aspect for Jesper is staying true to his values—he strives to speak and act consistently. A thought-provoking question from the audience asked whether there is room for activism in journalism. Some Danish journalists argue that they cannot be activists and that there is no need for activism in Denmark. However, Jesper believes that we cannot ignore global realities. Instead, we should remain committed, seize small opportunities, and turn them into bigger ones to bring about change—like in the case of Zimbabwe’s commitment to free media and human rights. At the same time, Jesper is critical of the hypocrisy displayed by major powers in the international community. He points to Gaza, where more than 116 journalists have been killed, sometimes deliberately. He sees this as one reason why many countries turn to BRICS for collaboration instead of the West. Jesper is also concerned about how politics, media, and the military have merged, often driven by economic interests and aided by technology and AI, to manipulate public opinion. All of the above, according to Jesper, should keep us vigilant. We must remain involved and seek reliable sources of information, even though this is becoming increasingly difficult. However, through sharing stories, we can still access diverse perspectives. Written By: Angeliki Alexopoulou, Erasmus Young Entrepreneur

This month marked the start of my journey as an intern at Crossing Borders, and it has been nothing short of inspiring! As part of my introduction to the organization, I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with a group of Japanese students. The objective was simple yet profound: to reflect on and learn about the importance of diversity, not just in society, but in our personal lives as well. From the moment the workshop began, the students’ energy and openness set the tone. Even though I was a bit worried about how it would all unfold—especially with the language barrier—the presence of a skilled translator made the communication flow easily, allowing everyone to feel included and fully involved. It was clear that the students had come with open minds, eager to engage with the topic. Therefore, I couldn’t have been more impressed by their readiness to dive into the discussions. The workshop was designed to be interactive and participatory, so we explored diversity through group discussions, storytelling, and presentations. Each activity was crafted to encourage personal reflection on how diversity impacts our everyday lives and communities. The students were quick to share their thoughts, drawing on their own experiences, and it became clear that this wasn’t just an academic exercise for them—they were genuinely curious and thoughtful about what diversity meant. One thing that really struck me was how insightful their comments were. For many of them, diversity is not something they encounter regularly, but they approached it with an open-hearted willingness to learn. The discussions often went deeper than I expected, and it was a joy to witness how they took these conversations seriously. But the most meaningful moment for me came toward the end of the day. After we’d spent hours discussing the different facets of diversity, one of the girls, who had functional diversity, was visibly moved by the session and shared with us how she felt related tot the topic. She talked about her experiences of navigating life with her disability and how discussions around diversity had given her the courage to open up. There was this quiet, powerful moment in the room as everyone listened, and I could see that her words were reaching the other students in a profound way. Her story was a reminder of why these conversations are so important. Diversity isn’t just a concept; it’s deeply personal, and the way we understand and embrace it can change lives. I left the workshop feeling really grateful—not just because of the students’ willingness to engage, but because they had shown me the power of these dialogues. As my first workshop, this experience exceeded every expectation I had. The students’ genuine involvement, their thoughtfulness, and the emotional depth of the discussions left a lasting impression on me. It showed me the real impact of education and it was the perfect way to start this new chapter. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time at Crossing Borders will bring. Written by: Sara Montes Martínez, Intern at Crossing Borders

Yesterday, we celebrated a very meaningful Mandela Day in collaboration with the South African Embassy in Denmark and the Mother Teresa-affiliated Charity Mission in Copenhagen. Since the charity mission is closed on Thursday, July 18, the official Mandela Day, we held the event a day earlier, on Wednesday, July 17. Our team from CB included six participants: Jessica (Ireland), Luka (Georgia), Margo (Egypt), Oussama (Palestine), Tanya (India), and Garba (Global). We arrived at the mission before noon, ready to work. Some staff members from the South African Embassy were already present, with others, including Ambassador Ms. Magubane, joining later. In total, seven individuals from the embassy actively participated. The treat included fresh fruits, soft drinks, and a Mandela birthday cake. We prepared and served fresh food to about 40-50 homeless citizens from various national backgrounds. Observing the group, it’s evident that Copenhagen is becoming increasingly diverse, even among its most vulnerable populations. The majority were men aged 25-50, struggling with challenges such as mental health issues, alcohol and drug misuse, poverty, and other health problems. These individuals represent a small fraction of the estimated 5,000 homeless people living on the streets of Denmark’s big cities. Compared to many other countries, Denmark’s situation for the homeless is better, with numerous shelters providing free food and beds for the night. While Mandela dedicated 60 years of his life to volunteering (excluding the 27 years he spent behind bars), we are proud to have spent about six hours serving those who need it most. A billion thanks to the South African Embassy and the Crossing Borders team for making Mandela Day in Copenhagen so meaningful.