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Written by Sabbir Ahmed Khan, Volunteer at Crossing Borders  At the latest edition of Food for Thought gathering, organized by Crossing Borders (CB), the room was graced by a woman who has built her life on standing up to injustice and inspiring others to do the same: Vibe Klarup, Secretary General of Amnesty International Denmark. As someone who has spent decades defending democracy and human rights, Vibe has been a close observer of the alarming global decline in both. Her participation sparked a lively, heartfelt discussion on how today’s young generation can take the lead in building a more just and humane world, even as authoritarianism spreads across continents. A Dinner That Feeds Both Mind and Soul Food for Thought is not your typical dinner event. Under the thoughtful moderation of Garba Diallo, Director of Crossing Borders, this unique platform brings together both Danish and internationals from all walks of life, living in Denmark for storytelling, reflection, and shared stories and meals. This time, Vibe Klarup’s storytelling session, followed by an open Q&A and a community dinner, reminded everyone that a dinner table can be more than a place to eat; it can be a place where empathy grows, ideas flourish, and courage takes root. From Silence to Speaking Up Vibe shared a deeply personal story from her teenage years. When she was just sixteen, a priest declared that AIDS was a divine curse because of homosexuality. She was outraged but too young and shocked to respond. That painful moment, however, changed her forever. She vowed never again to remain silent in the face of injustice. Over time, her family’s dining table became her first stage, a place where she learned to “speak up” for truth and fairness. Even if her words made some people uncomfortable, there were always others who stood with her, especially her father. That became the foundation of her lifelong activism. The Global Decline of Democracy and Rights Today, Vibe watches with deep concern as democracy and human rights erode worldwide. According to Amnesty International’s 2024 global report, authoritarian practices and crackdowns on dissent have continued to expand, from mass surveillance and restrictions on protest to the criminalization of critics. Early in 2025, one of the world’s most powerful democracies, the United States, made global headlines for detaining Mahmud Khalili, a student activist and U.S. Green Card holder, for three months simply for speaking out for the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. Deportation proceedings against him were widely condemned as an assault on free speech in America. Meanwhile, across Europe, peaceful protesters face growing surveillance and facial recognition monitoring, while immigrant and Muslim communities are disproportionately targeted. As Vibe pointed out, when nations that claim to champion democracy begin undermining their own values, it sends a dangerous signal that “human rights risk becoming human wrongs.” The New Enemy: Hate Speech Another modern threat to democracy, Vibe noted, is hate speech: communication that attacks or discriminates against people for who they are. Hate speech doesn’t just harm individuals; it attacks freedom of expression itself. Those who are targeted, especially women, LGBTQ+ activists, journalists, and minorities, often self-censor out of fear. The result is a public sphere that grows quieter, narrower, and less diverse; the very opposite of what democracy needs to thrive. The Power of Speaking Up Yet Vibe’s message was ultimately one of hope and action. Her advice was simple but powerful: “Keep speaking up. Keep protesting. Keep showing up.” She reminded everyone that the culture of fear spreading across societies is designed to make people give up and to stop believing that their voice matters. But courage, she said, is like a seed: it needs to be planted, nurtured, and shared. True change doesn’t happen overnight, and no lasting progress is possible without persistence. Whether through public demonstrations, storytelling, social media engagement, or even a simple online petition, every act of protest counts. Food for Thought and for the Future As the evening drew to a close, participants left not just with full stomachs, but with new ideas, renewed courage, and inspiration. For some, the event may well have planted the seed to become the next generation of human-rights defenders. And that, perhaps, is the true essence of Food for Thought: proving that even around a shared table, one can take the first step toward a fairer, freer, and more humane world.

Written by Sabbir Ahmed Khan, Volunteer at Crossing Borders On a crisp autumn evening in Copenhagen, while the city buzzed outside with its usual twilight rush, Crossing Borders meeting room transformed into a miniature world stage. The occasion was the latest edition of Food for Thought, where a participants gathered around the dining dialogue table. Over appetizers, they exchanged stories and introduced themselves, their names, their nationalities and their work. This global spirit was reflected in the diverse gathering itself. Attendees came from across Denmark, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas. The special guest for the Food for Thought was Simon C. Mears, Honorary Consul and Head of Mission for the United Republic of Tanzania in Denmark. Though not a career diplomat, Simon has built a fascinatingly career in multiple sectors of business, diplomacy and grassroots. He serves as Director of the Mears Group, one of the UK’s largest housing and social care providers and chairs the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark. Born in Tanzania, he spent much of his youth in Botswana and later Kenya before moving to the UK at the age of 28. In 2011, he relocated to Denmark, married a Danish woman, and has since made the country his home. The Tanzanian Consulate in Denmark is the fruit of his persistent efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations. As the event unfolded, Simon’s engaging storytelling drew participants into a wide-ranging conversation about Tanzania — its cultural identity, business environment, policies, challenges, and opportunities that come with immigration.Cultural barriers, as Simon noted, often stand in the way of deeper international cooperation. Although Denmark and Tanzania share one of Africa’s oldest diplomatic ties — Denmark being the first Scandinavian country to establish diplomatic relations with Tanzania — limited cultural understanding has prevented the relationship from reaching its full potential. Simon has made it his mission to bring Tanzanian culture into Danish society, bridging those gaps between the nations with patience and persistence. As Simon also let the audience know, Tanzania today is one of East Africa’s fastest-growing economies. Each year, thousands of tourists visit to natural beauty of the country including Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak and the island of Zanzibar, as well as the cultural and natural wealth. Once perceived as among Africa’s poor nations, Tanzania has now emerged as a fast developing and self-sufficient in food-secure country, producing tea, coffee, and grains, and is also blessed with rich deposits of gold, diamonds, and the rare gemstone tanzanite.But no country is without its struggles. A painful memory still lingers Tanzania from 1998, when a terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam put Tanzania in the negative global spotlight. While Tanzanians are historically known for their friendly behavior, warmth and hospitality, the incident cast a long-lasting shadow on the nation’s image. Today, however, Tanzania is mostly free of such turmoil and is moving steadily forward under its first female Muslim President, who is fostering a more open and tolerant society there. Even so, Simon reflected with some frustration, investors remain hesitant. he observed. Despite progress in god governance and development, many outsiders still see Tanzania through an outdated lens of poverty and the latest edition of terrorism. Actually, perception matters. In truth, reality stands in stark contrast to perception there. Albeit, corruption remains a challenge, and some human rights indicators show room for improvement, but change is remarkably underway. For Simon, the task is clear: the world’s negative stereotypes must be challenged. Just as corporations brand their products, countries too must brand themselves — showcasing their culture, strengths, and progress to the world. Only then will public perception shift toward the reality of Tanzania’s potential. As the evening drew to a close, the audience — students, professionals, development workers, and young people preparing for their careers — joined a warm and delightful dinner. The meal became a spontaneous platform for exchanging ideas about the how to challenge deep-rooted, negative perceptions with events like Food for Thought for mutual learning, building networks and sparking new inspiration.The conversation left many reflecting deeply on the gap between perception and reality in the story of Tanzania — and, by extension, Africa itself. For those present, the evening was not just about storytelling, food and dialogue, but about reimagining possibilities. A million thank you to Simon for sharing his unique story in a deep, broad and generous manner.

On August 21st, Crossing Borders had the privilege of hosting another powerful Food for Thought dinner, this time with guest speaker Michelle Pace. A storyteller at heart and a professor at Roskilde University, Michelle traced her life’s journey with candor and courage, reminding us all that truth is always worth the fight. Michelle began by reflecting on her childhood in Malta, where her grandfather’s socialist, anti-colonial beliefs planted in her an early awareness of social justice. Growing up during a period of decolonisation, she developed an inquisitive spirit and a deep commitment to understanding the world as a global citizen. “Once you open up to humanity,” she reminded us, “humanity opens back up to you.” Her path eventually led her to Palestine, where she witnessed firsthand the resilience of its people. She recalled women still wearing the house keys from before the Nakba around their necks, a symbol of their unbroken connection to their land. These stories, she explained, inspired her to write, teach, and speak out, because history is not just to be read but to be listened to and lived through the voices of those who endure it. Throughout the evening, Michelle emphasized that Palestine is not a distant issue—it is a European issue, shaped by Europe’s colonial legacy and perpetuated by its institutions. She spoke openly about the pressures she has faced as an educator, from attempts to censor her lectures on Palestine to demands that she reveal the names of students participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations. Despite these repressive mechanisms, she insisted on the role of education as a light, a place where questioning authority and telling the truth must remain central. Her words resonated deeply with the full house of more than 40 participants. The conversation stretched late into the evening, as attendees engaged with Michelle and with one another in a spirit of thoughtful dialogue. Questions and reflections flowed freely, and Michelle responded with warmth and conviction, never shying away from difficult truths. As people slowly made their way home, the atmosphere remained charged with courage and solidarity. Michelle’s story was not only a call to speak up for Palestine but also a reminder of the broader struggle against colonialism in all its forms. To listen, to tell stories, to resist censorship, and to unite against oppression. The evening closed with a powerful takeaway: truth is always worth living for, and always worth fighting for.

Last week, we had the opportunity to attend an inspiring event with Henriette Laursen, Director of KVINFO – Denmark’s leading knowledge centre for gender, equality, and diversity. It was truly a “food for thought” moment, filled with honest reflections, powerful insights, and personal stories that sparked meaningful conversations about leadership, equality, and the kind of society we want to build. The audience brought together perspectives from around the world – including Brazil, Denmark, India, Peru, Kenya, Tanzania, Ukraine, the USA, Japan, and Ghana. Henriette took us through her remarkable journey – not only as a professional, but also as a mother, a lawyer, and a woman navigating leadership roles across various sectors. Her career path is both impressive and deeply meaningful. She studied law at Aarhus University from 1987 to 1993 and then worked as a lawyer until 1998. That same year, she became CEO of the AIDS Foundation (AIDS-Fondet), where she dedicated herself to supporting those most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and ensuring their voices were heard in shaping prevention and treatment strategies. From 2005 to 2007, she served as an international adviser for Danida in Vietnam – a role that added a valuable global perspective to her work. She returned to lead the AIDS Foundation once more until 2014, before taking on the role of Secretary General of DUF – The Danish Youth Council, where she championed stronger youth engagement in democracy and civil society. Since 2017, Henriette has been at the helm of KVINFO, advancing vital conversations and initiatives around gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in Denmark. What stood out most during her talk were the deeply personal reflections. Henriette spoke candidly about the ongoing challenge of balancing a demanding career with family life. She highlighted the importance of intersectionality in feminism – acknowledging that true equality must include diverse perspectives and lived experiences. She reminded us that the journey towards equality isn’t a one-time effort, but a continuous process of learning, listening, and engaging. Her words were a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about titles or long CVs. It’s about having a clear vision, showing compassion, and the courage to stand up for what truly matters – even when it’s difficult. We left the event inspired, thoughtful, and energised – reminded of the power each of us holds to help shape a more equal and inclusive world. Written by: Naoka Omori, Intern at Crossing Borders