The International - May 2024

CONCERNS FROM THE HEART OF DENMARK...

AS MOTHER'S DAY APPROACHES, IT'S A TIME FOR REFLECTION ON THE BONDS OF LOVE AND SACRIFICE THAT DEFINE THE MATERNAL EXPERIENCE. FOR MANY OF US, THIS CELEBRATION TAKES ON ADDED SIGNIFICANCE, SERVING AS A REMINDER OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND JOYS THAT COME WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RAISING CHILDREN.

DEAR READERS

As an editor, it's not often that we find ourselves so directly affected by the stories we cover. But as I read Monica Lylloff's (co-founder of the movement #enmillionstemmer) poignant piece, "The Weakest as Scapegoats," I couldn't help but feel a deep resonance with her concerns, both as a mother and a resident of Denmark. In her words, she sums up the fears and frustrations of countless individuals reeling with the implications of sweeping reforms that threaten to upend the very fabric of our society's commitment to care and compassion for the most vulnerable.

As a mother, I find myself grappling with a mix of emotions: pride in the resilience and strength of mothers everywhere and a profound sense of worry for the future that awaits our children in a world where compassion seems increasingly scarce. I urge you to join us and countless others in raising our voices against these unjust reforms, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to a society that should value empathy, solidarity, and the inherent dignity of every individual.

A demonstration has been planned by Lyloff and her team and is scheduled for the 22nd of May at 17:00 outside Christiansborg – the heart of the Danish parliament. It's an opportunity for us to come together, to stand united in defence of our shared values and to demand a more just and compassionate approach to social policy. Let us show our government that we will not stand idly by as the most vulnerable among us are scapegoated for the failures of a broken system. Together, we can make our voices heard and pave the way for a brighter future for all.

DLyloff's voice cuts through the political rhetoric and bureaucratic jargon to shine a harsh light on the harsh realities facing people with disabilities in Denmark today. Her words ring with a sense of urgency, a call to action against policies that prioritise short-term financial gains over the long-term well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.

At the heart of Lyloff's argument lies a fundamental question of values: What kind of society do we wish to build, and at what cost? As she eloquently articulates, the current trajectory of social policy in Denmark is one marked by indifference and neglect. Rather than addressing the root causes of rising costs and systemic failures, policymakers have chosen instead to scapegoat those least able to defend themselves.

For Lyloff, this is not just a matter of political ideology or abstract policy debates; it's personal. As a mother of a handicapped child, she confronts these issues on a daily basis, navigating a labyrinthine bureaucracy that often seems more concerned with balancing budgets than providing essential support and services.

These reforms have broader implications for Danish society as a whole. She warns against the dangers of allowing short-term financial interests to dictate social policy, emphasising the need for a more holistic approach that takes into account the complex interplay of economic, social, and ethical considerations.

She argues that the committee's recommendations represent a dangerous precedent, legitimising a shift towards a more punitive and cost-focused approach to social welfare. By framing the discussion in terms of "citizen's potential" and "economic considerations," policymakers risk losing sight of the human beings at

"THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, SHE ARGUES, REPRESENT A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, LEGITIMISING A SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE PUNITIVE AND COST-FOCUSED APPROACH TO SOCIAL WELFARE."

Moreover, Lyloff highlights the interconnectedness of various welfare areas, pointing out that the problems facing our daycare centres, schools, healthcare system, and elderly care services are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeper systemic issue. She urges policymakers to take a more holistic view, acknowledging the interconnectedness of social welfare policies and the need for comprehensive, long-term solutions.

At the heart of Lyloff's concerns lies a profound sense of empathy and compassion for those who stand to be most affected by these reforms. She refuses to accept the false dichotomy between fiscal responsibility and social justice, insisting that we can and must do better for our most vulnerable in Denmark.

As we grapple with the implications of these reforms, let us heed Lyloff's call to action. Let us resist the temptation to scapegoat the weakest among us and instead reaffirm our commitment to a society that values compassion, empathy, and solidarity. In doing so, we honour not only our moral obligations to one another but also the very essence of what it means to be Danish. We hope to see you at the demonstration. I and other team members will be there to support the demonstration. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely Mother's Day, however you choose to spend it?

Love,

Lyndsay

EDITOR & FOUNDER

MEET THE TEAM

EDITOR & FOUNDER

Lyndsay Jensen - lyndsay@the-intl.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR & PARTNER

Kenneth Macalpine - kenneth@the-intl.com

CONSULTING EDITOR

Conrad Egbert

GRAPHIC DESIGN

The International

WRITERS TEAM

Ophelia Wu; Alexandra Beck; Mariano Davies; Monika Pedersen; Anna Pawlowicz; Michaela Medvedova; Natasha Liviero; Heather Storgaard; Natália Šepitková; Luke Hannon; Rikke Skak Harboe; Dominic J Stevenson; Thorbern Alexander Klingert

COVER PICTURE

COHO

SoMe Ambassadors

Michaela Medvedova; Ane-Sophie Custura; Terumi Mascarenhas; Leslie Noygues; Shelly Pandey; Ritika Jain; Pavlos Tsiakoumis; Sakib Akhter; Rashmi Jadhav; Shaeema Zaman

SALES

sales@the-intl.com

The International is published online 12 times a year. This issue was published on 6 May 2024.

Notice: The publishers regret that they cannot accept any liability for error or omissions contained in this publication. The opinions and views presented need not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek special counsel before acting on any information contained herein. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publishers. Published by and © 2021 The International ApS. Registered in Denmark / CVR Number: 39118181

the heart of these policies, reducing them to mere numbers on a balance sheet.

HOW PATRICK IS SHAPING THE WORLD TO HIS IMAGE

FROM THE IDYLLIC ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE TO DUBAI AND COPENHAGEN, WHERE HE’S BUILDING A GROWING CONTENT STUDIO FOR STARTUPS, PATRICK FOUND HIS PLACE IN DENMARK AND IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT OTHER INTERNATIONALS DO, TOO.

WITH A FEW businesses under his belt, you wouldn’t think that Patrick Bates could have ever felt like an outsider. But beginnings in a new country are always hard.

So now, he is working to create the Copenhagen he would have liked in the beginning—one full of opportunities for internationals.

AS IDYLLIC AS IT GETS

W“Patrick spent the first part of his life in the idyllic, classic English countryside. “I’m from the southwest of England. There were about 300 people in my village and just lots of greenery and fields. So, being a country boy, that really was my lifestyle. So that transition at 19 to go live in Dubai was a big one,” laughs Patrick.

Growing up in a village had its pros and cons. Patrick would go to school in a nearby bigger town, and all of his friends were there - but often, when they would do things in the evening, he would be stuck in the village unless his parents would take him. “It was kind of lonely at times, but you also have more freedom. My parents chose that place because it was safer, and I could just run around doing whatever I wanted. There was something beautiful about running around in the countryside fields and playing hide and seek in the village. All these little things you wouldn’t really have in a busy town.”

But even though the village only had 300 people in it, there was something right opposite Patrick’s house - a chocolate factory that made designer chocolate.”There was this big window facing the street where you could see the workers packaging the chocolate. And obviously, everyone knows everyone, so you’d always smile and wave, and they’d smile and wave back. You’d always go knock on their door during trick or treat-

ing, or they would sell these little one-pound bags of faulty chocolates they can’t sell,” remembers Patrick.

When he was 18, they were looking for someone to fill in for one of the workers, and Patrick was just taking his gap year. “So I took it up. It was long hours, from five or six in the morning, when the big lorries would drop off the pallets of chocolate beans and a late finish. But it was a fun new experience, and I started taking on more and more responsibility and doing everything they needed - so I negotiated a £2 an hour pay increase. They were shocked a young guy like me was this disruptive and knew his worth. Then suddenly, I was the highest-paid employee in the chocolate factory. We had to agree not to tell anyone about it.”

That was a sweet 8 months, but then, another opportunity came knocking.

OFF THE DEEP END IN DUBAI

Patrick’s brother knew a guy who started a video production company in Dubai, working with some of the biggest brands in the world. “We’d see the content on Instagram, and I always enjoyed the idea of filming and editing, even though I hadn’t done much before. So my brother connected me with his friend in Dubai so I could pitch to him that I’d work for him for free if he paid for the flights and accommodation.” He took him up on it - so Patrick boarded a flight to Dubai. That was the further he’d ever gone on a plane.

And he was really thrown in at the deep end - within three days of getting there, Patrick was instructed to clean the cameras of a six or seven-person crew. “I was so scared of touching them or even looking at them. The whole thing was intimidating - I mean,

PHOTOGRAPHS COHO TEXT MICHAELA MEDVEĎOVÁ

for a start, we were on the 43rd floor of a big skyrise on the Dubai Marina. The next day, he sent me out on my first shoot - and actually put the camera in my hand and said he wanted me to film as the second camera operator.” But what he found out was that he quickly knew what to do and had an eye for this kind of creative filming. “When I came back to the office, my boss looked at it and said: What the hell, you can actually shoot! Now, can you also edit it? He made me do the entire edit as well - and when we delivered the content, it was approved. Actually, the video was for Carlsberg,” smiles Patrick. So from then on, Patrick started going on more and more shoots, becoming a full-time paid filmmaker and editor. “We travelled around the Middle East for projects, filming with some of the biggest brands and trying different things I could add to the resume.” While Patrick was only there for four months, the sheer number of projects he worked on was the perfect crash course for the industry. “I’m very thankful to my boss, who took me under his wing and mentored me. I experienced the whole entrepreneurial side of running the business with the pains and frustrations that go with it, and also the shooting side of things, and learning how to use a camera. It was the ultimate entrepreneur-

"SO I MOVED INTO A COLLEGIUM IN COPENHAGEN73 DANISH PEOPLE THERE, AND THEY’VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE FOREIGNER LIVING WITH THEM BEFORE. IT WAS A PROPER CULTURAL SHIFT. AND THAT WAS THE START OF MY STUDENT LIFESTYLE IN 2019."

ial filmmaking experience which basically meant I could build my own business off the back of what I did in those four months.”

FLIPPING THE COIN

Before Patrick moved to Dubai, he worked at a lot of different jobs during his gap yearnot just in the chocolate factory, but he was also a door-to-door milk salesman, worked at a storage unit, and as a security guard at concerts. “I wanted to get a job at IBM and become a business analyst at 18. It would come with a great salary, and my vision was to start a property business where I would buy properties, rent them out, and build my portfolio that way. I actually got offered that IBM job - and then the Dubai opportunity came.”

So when the initial time was up in Dubai, the choice was again there: to stay there and continue building his filmmaking career, to work at IBM back home in England, or to try another country, get a degree, and try out the student life.

Patrick had also applied to study at CBS in Copenhagen and got in. “I really struggled with the decision for a long time. But then I thought: I tried the UK already, and I don’t see myself in a corporate role. I tried Dubai, and even though I was there only for a short time if I came back later, they would probably give me the same role because I was a pretty big asset to the team. So I said screw it, let’s do Copenhagen.”

It was not as random a choice as it might have seemed - Patrick is actually half-Danish, as his mom moved to the UK from Jutland in the 1980s. “So I moved into a collegium in Copenhagen - 73 Danish people there, and they’ve never had a single foreigner living with them before. It was a proper cultural shift. And that was the start of my student lifestyle in 2019.”

But even though he has roots in Denmark, Patrick never really felt Danish - nor did he learn how to speak it. “The first six to ten months, I felt like a massive outsider. People would start talking in English but then switch to Danish during the dinner clubs in the evenings. It was just really tough. At the time, I considered leaving because feeling like a social outsider can be quite tricky, especially if you’re so young and you just expect people to accommodate you. But I quickly had to push my ego aside and realize I was in their country, in their territory. It was fair they didn’t have to talk in English all the time. It was not personal. Realizing this was a turning point for me, I started building up my confidence more from then on.”

Five years later, Patrick has a Danish girlfriend and a Danish dog (in his words), some of his old collegium friends are among his closest friends, and he feels like he fits in much more.

VENTURING OUT ON YOUR OWN

Patrick always had an entrepreneurial side to him - and his experience in Dubai motivated him even more to want to do his own thing. “I basically spent the first year in Denmark putting my SU into a bucket to slowly save up the money to buy a good camera. And after a lot of rejections from applying for jobs at bars, I finally found a job at a little boat bar in Nyhavn so it was extra money in my pocket to help save up for a camera.”

After he got one, Patrick would sit in the back at his university lectures and email all little startups in Copenhagen, asking them if he could film for them for free - just to build a reputation and a portfolio for himself. “I had hundreds reject me, hundreds that went bankrupt, but a few actually said yes.” He did three videos for three brands, and his company, 4V Films, started from there, basically from his dorm room, Overall, Denmark - and Copenhagen - is a good place to start a business in. The only

barrier Patrick discovered was the networking side of it. “The attitude often was Danish or nothing else. But when you’re trying to create contacts and connections, you need to do it in English - it’s way harder to build those connections in broken Danish.”

So, to help bring about change, he started a group called Expat Entrepreneurs in Copenhagen - a free Facebook group where they would do regular events for free for entrepreneurs in English just to provide a platform for those who want to network and grow together. “It quickly got a lot of traction and that means a lot of people wanted this concept. Within a year, we had about a thousand people, and now it’s at about 1400.”

When Patrick started 4V Films in his dorm room, it was just him. After he met his girlfriend, she also jumped on the project to help him. Slowly, he started hiring a team and ultimately grew the company to 5 employees.

“In the last couple of years, I transitioned from the shooting side to running the business instead. It’s been a long time since I have picked up a camera. And I don’t really miss it - I think I used the camera as the tool or the vehicle to get to entrepreneurship. I much prefer building something people can benefit from, and that can scale and grow and have an impact on the world.”

One of the struggles, though? The financial side of running a business. “All of Skat was in Danish up until recently. Finance has always been a massive challenge. Luckily, now I have a bookkeeper who I can just write on WhatsApp and screenshot my e-Boks messages.”

Actually, if there is one thing that Patrick learned about moving to Denmark, it’s that you should take your e-Boks seriously.

“Because I am half-Danish, I qualified for Danish military conscription. But when I moved here, I was already 20, older than the usual age. So, one summer, I was heading back to England and was stopped at the airport. They were looking at my passport for a bit too long and then said: ‘You’re wanted by the Danish police. You were sent a letter into your e-Boks about the military conscription, and you did not turn up to the trials. That’s illegal here in Denmark. So you’re gonna have to go to prison now.’ I always thought e-Boks was for boring tax information and surveys, so I didn’t check it that often. So then, three armed policemen escorted me through the whole airport, baggage reclaim, and through arrivals, where everyone was waving their Danish flag. They handed me over, put me into a car, and drove me into the main prison in Copenhagen. I underwent the whole thing - strip, search, getting thrown into a prison cell. And I was there for 23 hours and sat there doing nothing. I ended up carving my initials into the wall with a plastic knife. The next day, they took me to the camp, did the medical test, and then sat me down and started speaking Danish. I said, look, I don’t speak any Danish, I don’t know what’s going on. And they said, well, you can’t be in the army if you don’t speak Danish, you’re free to go. So I had to drag my suitcase with a broken handle through the fields to a bus stop to try and get myself back to Copenhagen. I had to make sure I didn’t have a criminal record. The whole thing cost me about 9 thousand kroner and 34 hours in prison - because I didn’t check my e-Boks.”

CONTENT HOUSE

Luckily, Patrick was able to put this episode behind him and go on to have his entrepreneurial journey in Denmark.

After a few years of growing 4V Films, the team was working with bigger and bigger brands. But this did not quite fit with their original mission statement - to help startups and small brands compete against larger corporations with great, accessible content. “It was much more fulfilling because there was more of an impact when we were helping a small business. One video can absolutely change their business. Whereas a video for Audi is like a drop in the ocean.”

So the team looked back and thought: What can they do to help small businesses? Creating great content, it’s expensive, time-consuming, and overwhelming. To do it long-term

is difficult for small companies. Out of that, the idea for CoHo - or Content House - was born. “We tested the idea of a studio where companies would pay for a membership. They could get unlimited access and book it whenever they wanted. It really works for busy startup founders as we become this plug-and-play content solution.” Alongside meeting their content needs, CoHo introduces a community for the founders.

Patrick knew they had a unique idea on their hands, so they doubled down on it, and spent the first six months testing the concept right in the apartment where he lives with his girlfriend. The concept proved to be right on the money - about 20 brands used it, and when the team found a cool studio space in Frederiksberg and started selling spots, they sold out their offer within three minutes. “We were only selling five annual memberships, but that was enough for us to fund the expansion without having to use our own money or look for investors. So we basically managed to crowdfund the concept.”

Now, they are a team of seven, with 16 clients on the annual membership. The goal is to get to 60 by the end of the year, expand to a bigger studio next year, and have a thousand members within several CoHos in different cities around the world.

DON'T LEAVE TOO EARLY

Now, Patrick really thinks he is getting the best out of Denmark. “I don’t feel like an outsider anymore. Even though I still can’t speak Danish, I throw what I know into my conversations sometimes. It’s important to show you can try.” When it comes to building a business, Patrick’s advice for overcoming the language barrier is to have Danes in your team who can help you navigate the cultural side of the business. “But ultimately, my goal is to keep pushing for a more international Copenhagen and more opportunities for English-speaking people, especially on the entrepreneurial side - and I think we’re getting closer to that.”

Ultimately, he couldn’t be happier that he did not go through with his plan to abandon ship when life was tough during his first year in Denmark. “I think a lot of expats feel like that in the beginning - like an outsider, like a victim. But I think what it really takes is having that conversation with yourself where you can take a step back, put your ego aside, build your confidence to keep going, and just throw yourself into that experience. Because you’ll thank yourself. I’d really regret leaving too early.” THE-INTL

CoHo – The Content House is a dynamic, modern studio based in Copenhagen. Patrick's team is a big mix of cultures. It naturally attracts internationals as well as Danes, and now they have an awesome 50/50 mix of both that works really well! If you're looking for a community and would like to become a member, visit their website to find out more: coho.dk

A value-driven community that welcomes students ages 4-16.

Rygaards has a strong reputation of a rich educational experience with a nurturing atmosphere where students learn to think for themselves, find their own voice, and engage with the world with confidence and curiosity.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING IN THE EU ELECTION

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS – THE PROCESS AND THE CASE FOR VOTING.

IIN THE RUN-UP to the European Parliamentary (EP) election, the question of why one should vote looms large. Voting is not merely a civic duty but fundamental for an inclusive democracy. As Denmark gears up for the EP election, understanding who can vote, when and how to vote, and the significance of each ballot cast is paramount.

WHY VOTE?

As the European Parliamentary (EP) election edges nearer, so does the vital decision to vote. Until the last EP election in 2019, voting for the EP had been declining across the European Union (EU). Often, few EU citizens living in another member state know that they are eligible to vote in their country of residence. There are undoubtedly many reasons for this outcome, including language barriers and a lack of information. However, the result is a representation gap when an eligible voting population is omitted from the election process, which challenges the idea of representative democracy. Consequently, voting is imperative for a healthy democracy by way of ensuring representation.

WHO CAN VOTE?

As a first-time voter in Denmark for the EP election, you will have to register, which reassuringly is a one-off process. Anyone can vote who adheres to the following guidelines:

 At least 18 years of age on election day

 A Danish or EU citizen legally residing in Denmark or a Danish citizen living abroad

 Registered by the deadline (so no later than 5th May 2024). My previous article mentioned 13th May 2024 as the deadline. That was a mistake and recti fied here.

WHEN AND HOW TO VOTE?

The EP election is taking place on Sunday, 9th June, 2024 in Denmark. Registration is due five weeks ahead of that date (5th May 2024 is the last day to register).

If you have not received a letter via digital post prompting your registration, you can still register here, which includes both instructions and the application form to be sent back (digitally or physically). The authorities advise that you should register well in advance as the application may take some time. Once registered, you will receive your ballot paper (polling card) approximately five days ahead of election day with instructions confirming the address of your polling station. Apart from your polling card, it is also advisable to bring some form of ID (i.e. either a yellow health card, driver’s license, or passport, etc.).

CAN I VOTE BEFORE ELECTION DAY?

Should you wish to vote ahead of election day by postal voting, simply go to any Citizens Services Centre in Denmark (remember ID) once registered. This option can be done until three days before the election.

CAN I VOTE IF I’M ABROAD?

Should you either be away during the day of the election (i.e. due to vacation) as an EU citizen or be a Danish citizen living abroad in another EU member state, you can still vote.

In case of the former following registration (if you are a first-time voter), simply

head to any Danish embassy. The authorities advise that you do so as soon as possible as the processing of these votes can take some time and needs to be completed seven days ahead of the election.

In case of the latter, you will need to register for “valglisten til Europa-Parlamentsvalg” (the voting list for the EP election). You can do so online by following the instructions here. Again, the authorities advise doing so as early as possible.

THE CALL TO ACTION

Voting at the EP election matters. Whether local or European concerns are one’s personal priorities, both themes apply in this election. In terms of the former, that could, for instance, apply as a student seeking funding for their studies. From a European perspective, matters concerning the environment, economy, security, or an entirely other matter would be areas in which the EU plays a significant role. Over 60% of laws applied in member states come from the EU. Therefore, in order to influence that, in order to make your voice heard, and in order to play a part in the democratic process, the call to action is a solid encouragement to vote at this EP election. THE-INTL

"THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY MANY REASONS FOR THIS OUTCOME, INCLUDING LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND A LACK OF INFORMATION. HOWEVER, THE RESULT IS A REPRESENTATION GAP WHEN AN ELIGIBLE VOTING POPULATION IS OMITTED FROM THE ELECTION PROCESS, WHICH CHALLENGES THE IDEA OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY."

THORBERN ALEXANDER KLINGERT POLITICAN

Thorbern is a European Parliamentary candidate for Venstre (Denmark’s Liberal Party). Born abroad to a Filipino mother and a Danish father, he spent large chunks of his life living in various countries. The international perspective gave rise to his interest in European politics, particularly following Brexit when he was based in London at the time. On a daily basis, he works in a global consultancy, working with colleagues and clients across the world, reinforcing the international element that has been with him throughout his life.

t.a.klingert@gmail.com taklingert

Thorbern Alexander Klingert

@TAKlingert

Thorbern Alexander Klingert

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT THORBERN ALEXANDER KLINGERT

APPLYING FOR LOST EARNINGS FOR CHILDCARE AT HOME

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS

PPROVIDING AT-HOME CARE to your child with a chronic illness or disability? Here is how you can apply for lost earnings.

When a child has complex needs, it might be necessary for one or both parents to look after their child at home. However, this can lead to missed work and financial challenges. To ease the pressure, you can apply for tabt arbejdsfortjeneste or TAF (lost earnings). In this issue, we will discuss lost earnings, the conditions you need to fulfil, and the application process in detail.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO TAF?

According to Social, Bolig og Ældreministeriet, parents are eligible for TAF if their child is up to the age of 18 and either:

 Has a significant mental or physical disability or

 Suffers from a chronic illness.

There might be many situations where parents need to take time away from work to care for their child at home: the child or young person might have a great need for at-home care and supervision, might be unable to be in daycare or school, or might need to attend frequent examinations or treatments.

HOW IS TAF CALCULATED?

You can apply to have earnings covered for a varying amount of time - from a few hours a week to full working hours. The maximum number of hours covered weekly is 37. Both parents can apply for TAF, but according to the Copenhagen municipality, this number of hours is combined for both parents - and more hours are granted only in special cases. As the Ministry states, the amount of lost earnings that you can receive is calculated based on previous gross income - up to a certain ceiling. In 2024, borger.dk put the maximum monthly amount at DKK 35,247. Payments are made directly into your NemKonto.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY FOR TAF?

You can apply digitally with your municipality. Here is the list of documents the Copenhagen municipality states you need for your application:

 The last three payslips - or, if you are self-employed, your latest accounts or annual statement

 Pension information

 Your doctor’s confirmation of your child’s disability or illness

After the municipality receives your application, you receive an acknowledgement letter. If this is your first application, you will receive a phone call requesting more information (if more details are needed) and offering guidance.

After a decision has been reached, you will be notified through e-Boks. If your application is successful, your employer will also need to provide acceptance for your leave without pay. All cases of lost earnings are followed up on by the municipality at least once a year to ensure the lost earnings amount corresponds to your needs and is being used for the proper purpose.

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE TAF

TAF can be used in various scenarios, and we’ve spoken to two families who have used it in different circumstances.

Rasmine, whose daughter needs full-time care due to a rare syndrome, is using the so-called ‘ad hoc’ TAF together with her husband. The TAF hours are used for hospital

Rasmine uses additional TAF hours each month to manage her daughter's early return from kindergarten. Very often, pupils in daycare facilities for medically complex children tend to attend those facilities at reduced hours due to their inability to manage longer kindergarten days. In Rasmine’s words, “Having TAF available for us helps our daughter immensely, and it helps us as a family manage our daily life more calmly.”

Another family we spoke with used TAF when they were managing the treatment of cancer, which their son was diagnosed with at the age of two. Rita and Søren applied for TAF shortly after the diagnosis was confirmed to decrease the financial pressure of reduced working hours while taking care of their son.

The family benefited from TAF for 1.5 years. Having TAF hours available to them enabled Rita and Søren to manage their son’s chemotherapy, handle the side effects, and learn how to care for him during that challenging time. It also allowed them to provide optimal care for their younger baby and take care of their well-being, which, according to Rita, made all the difference for them individually and as a family.

In her words: “TAF helped our son by providing him with fully present parents. Parents who were mentally, emotionally, and financially available to provide care, love, and attention in a time when he needed it most.”

Do you have questions about this topic? We’d love to hear from you! Please write to us at lyndsay@the-intl.com THE-INTL

MICHAELA MEDVEDOVÁ comes from Slovakia and moved to Denmark 3 years ago to study for her Master's degree. She says living in Odense is the perfect city for her because it's not too large to be intimidating, but still exciting! She works at Umbraco as a Magical Copy Whisperer and started a podcast with her friends - @humans.of.sdu. She loves watching and talking about movies, Harry Potter, karaoke nights (even though she can't sing to save her life), and pub quizzes (winning them, to be specific).

ANNA PAWLOWICZ is the founder and CEO of HumanKind, a consultancy focused on driving disability inclusion in the workplace and in our society. Anna’s mission to foster disability inclusion started with the birth of her son, who lives with a disability due to a rare genetic condition.

visits, which both parents need to attend to help their child manage anxiety related to medical appointments.

MICHAELA MEDVEDOVÁ / ANNA PAWLOWICZ

I GROUP FITNESS: MORE THAN JUST A WORKOUT!

IF YOU, LIKE many, have been through the trials and errors of creating a workout routine, you will know that it takes a lot more than just a plan before you even get to the first workout!

Between learning at what time of day you prefer to workout, which kind of exercise you enjoy, and which gyms or private groups are convenient in your area, there are so many logistics before taking the first steps! And then, even after you have created what looks like the perfect routine, sticking to it can be a mission. Luckily, many opportunities within the industry work towards supporting routines and fitness goals!

GROUP FITNESS

It is an excellent option and one that is close to my heart for anyone who needs support in staying motivated, who needs accountability and who wants an experience that will make them come back time after time!

Group fitness sessions are usually led by a qualified instructor or personal trainer, so you can expect some better guidance on form than if you were to go to the gym alone. Working out as a team is so much more than a workout! I promise you that the combination of a fixed schedule, mixed with a group of people in a class setting, is the recipe for adults to achieve their fitness goals with more success!

HERE’S WHY…

Besides creating accountability, group fitness has so many other benefits: it can help build confidence, gain support and motivation and enhance your social health! There is a certain sense of security in having people around you who are working towards a similar goal, and the support helps to overcome many newbie concerns, like the fear of the struggle, muscle soreness or even failure. One of the greatest parts about starting in a team, is that it makes it so much easier to create realistic expectations for yourself when you see other people experiencing the same thing as you in real time.

FIXED SCHEDULES RULE

When I look at my teams, I can see the social, mental, and physical benefits of them meeting up and working out together one, two or three times per week. When you dedicate specific days and times to exercise with other people, you are more likely to show up because there is more chance that someone will notice if you are not there! And if you find a suitable exercise class with the right instructor and a fun group of like-minded people, the chances that you actually make it a top priority are way higher than if you were flying solo! Okay, now I’ve almost convinced you to give it a go, so what exactly should you look for in a group fitness class?

AN EXPERT INSTRUCTOR

Get to know your instructor and his/her fitness background. Make sure your instructor has a health or fitness-related qualification, preferably a speciality certification in the class they are teaching. This way, you can confidently ask for help and get assistance during class to ensure proper form and prevent injury. A qualified fitness expert will also make sure to provide

adaptive and progressive formats to suit your current level and support your goals.

AN APPEALING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT

An appealing environment can refer to a number of aspects of where group fitness sessions are held. For example, do you like to work out at a gym with an allocated classroom and a fully equipped set-up, or do you prefer an outdoor setting with fresh air and a view?

The area should be safe to work out in, and the instructor should make sure you feel welcome no matter what your own fitness level is. This is going to be the place you want to come back to, to experience the group fitness magic!

FUN!

This could be anything that makes you smile during class, whether it’s a crazy cool playlist, some groovy dance moves or your instructor’s ability to make (bad) jokes. If you attend a class that makes you feel like a million kroner, you have hit the jackpot! Invest and reap the incredible benefits for years to come! THE-INTL

ALEXANDRA BECK PERSONAL TRAINER & NUTRITION COACH

Alex is a Swiss/Brit mom and wife who has lived in Copenhagen since 2009. She switched from corporate life in communications to the independent life of an outdoor personal and group fitness trainer. She coaches people of all ages and fitness levels to find fun and consistency in movement through individual and group workouts. Delivering entertainment and spreading group fitness magic is her superpower. Alex encourages you to high-five her if you see her in the capital!

@alexbeck.fit

@alexbeck.fit

@alexbeck.fit

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT ALEXANDRA BECK

WHAT'S TRUST GOT TO DO WITH IT?

HIDDEN HURDLES TO INTEGRATION IN DENMARK.

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT LUISA GEITMANN-MÜGGE

TTHE FACT THAT it is hard to learn Danish, takes serious effort to understand the tax system, and finding a job as a foreigner aren't the most enjoyable experiences about being an international in Denmark. But what other, more subtle structures and cultural dimensions are there that can make it challenging to integrate into Danish culture? There are at least two things that come to mind when taking a closer look at Danish everyday culture beyond rugbrød and leverpostej. Firstly, the Danish society at large is built upon a high level of trust - in the system and each other. Secondly, people are generally expected to be self-sufficient and independent - in most domains of life and from a young age.

TRUST ME, TRUST THE SYSTEM

Unattended babies in prams in front of cafés or only having to show your picture-less yellow card at local elections. These are moments in which you realise that in Denmark, people trust each other. The same trust they seem to have in each other often also applies to "the system". It is uncommon to hear someone raised in Denmark question whether they can trust, for example, their municipality with their data or expect anything less than proper and timely management of their requests. And they have good reasons to "trust the system": in Denmark, things just work (unless MitID breaks down, that is). By now, people are used to smooth processing and convenient digital communication.

And this is where the invisible hurdle lies for internationals: many are not used to being able to trust the system to that extent.

You don't have to come from a corruption-riddled country to meet public administration officers and other service providers with a portion of scepticism unfamiliar to many local Danes. It is sufficient to have years of experience dealing with a public system which is less stable, reliable, efficient and digitised to find it difficult to internalise the Danish "det skal nok gå"- attitude.

This cultural misalignment can lead to tensions if not talked about openly. To avoid widening the gap between immigrants and the public system, both parties need to be reflective of their perceptions and active in communicating them. Public and other employees dealing with international cases can take a step towards them by providing more detailed explanations of processes and how long these usually take, as well as by giving instructions on what to do when things don't go as expected. A healthy portion of empathy, moreover, never hurts in intercultural encounters.

On the other side of the equation, internationals might just have to be more open and honest about their concerns, share that they are worried, and ask people who have lived in the country for longer for their advice. Find out what is normal and when you should start being worried.

What do you do, though, when you start worrying, want to complain, or think that you've been treated unfairly or not received the things you feel like you're entitled to?

"UNATTENDED BABIES IN PRAMS IN FRONT OF CAFÉS OR ONLY HAVING TO SHOW YOUR PICTURE-LESS YELLOW CARD AT LOCAL ELECTIONS. THESE ARE MOMENTS IN WHICH YOU REALISE THAT IN DENMARK, PEOPLE TRUST EACH OTHER."

THERE IS HELP, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ASK FOR IT

This leads us to the second hidden hurdle to seamless integration: the high level of independence and self-sufficiency expected from individuals.

In Denmark, children are taught to not just be independent thinkers but also proactive "doers" from an early age. This might be one of the reasons why many of those who grew up in Denmark have a hard time relating to less independent adults.

The Danish welfare system is extensive. However, it can be irritating for internationals who grew up in cultures which demand them to be less independent that it is often the individual's responsibility to ask for their piece of the welfare cake. If you are unaware of that, you might be left behind. And even if you do, you might not be aware of what level of persistence is required or appropriate.

The good news is that entities like your municipality's citizen service, the healthcare sector and other social services are created to serve you and the vast ma-

jority of people employed in these sectors are very ready and willing to do so.

So, in most cases, the question is not whether you will be helped but rather whom to ask and how persistent you have to be.

BALANCING ACT

It is an art to find the right balance between trusting the system enough and advocating for your rights. You'll have to be patient and expect that everything is going to work out and ask for what you want in a manner which would be perceived as at least pushy in many other cultures at the same time. Landing at this sweet spot is something you learn over many years of living in a culture. Like many other aspects of culture, it becomes natural and subconscious. For those joining a culture later in life, getting there is more unnatural and requires active effort, but it can definitely be aided by an interculturally sensitive and informed environment. THE-INTL

SAXO BANK

AN AWARD-WINNING DANISH ONLINE TRADING PLATFORM.

PHOTOGRAPHS SAXO BANK FB PAGE

SSAXO IS A leading online trading platform that connects investors and traders to global financial markets. As a fully regulated and licensed independent provider, its clients have secure access to more than 71,000 financial instruments.

Its journey began in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1992 with a clear vision: to make the global financial markets accessible for more people. In 1998, it launched one of the first online trading platforms in Europe, providing professional-grade tools and easy access to global financial markets for anyone who wanted to invest.

SAXOTRADERPRO & SAXOTRADERGO

Saxo’s award-winning flagship desktop platform is SaxoTraderPRO, which resembles SaxoTraderGO – look, feel and functionality are similar. However, the PRO platform offers a larger selection of professional trading features. For example, PRO supports up to six monitors, streaming Level 2 order books, streaming time and sales, and algorithmic orders. Furthermore, additional data subscriptions are required to use tools like the streaming Level 2 order book, which is a standard industry practice. Charting on SaxoTraderPRO is equally powerful as the web version. Subtle touches are seamlessly incorporated, such as the count-down timers, which display the time remaining in each candle.

The only minor drawback when comparing PRO to GO is that many of the research features that load by default in GO must be added manually using the “add module” tab. It is also worth noting that additional data subscriptions are required to use tools like the streaming Level 2 order book, though this is a standard industry practice. The desktop version of SaxoTraderPRO is immersive, especially when going full-screen on a large monitor.

The Tool provides a universal platform experience across devices, which is why it has been praised for its ease of use. The user experience across platforms and devices is consistent, and customised charts and watch lists automatically save and sync with the mobile app.

All in all, Saxo’s close attention to detail can be seen throughout its proprietary platforms. For example, in SaxoTraderGO, the trade ticket comes with advanced options such as the ability to switch between forex CFDs, futures, forwards, or forex options. Furthermore, the Quick Trade option allows you to set price tolerance for slippage when you need immediate fills.

For risk-management purposes, there is an Account Value Shield feature that lets you specify the maximum risk across your account balance. If triggered, this feature will attempt to close all open positions (except for bonds and mutual funds) – combined with at least thirteen advanced algorithmic order types available for various supported markets.

INDEPENDENT MARKET RESEARCH

According to independent market research, Saxo Bank appears to be obsessed with helping its clients to make money. That conclusion has been reached when perusing the state-of-the-art research from Saxo’s in-house team, browsing the extensive trading ideas that are available on its website and various platforms, or engaging with the content available from Saxo’s various toptier third-party providers. Saxo earned Best in Class honours in a Research Category in 2024 and remains a top choice for traders looking for in-depth forex research.

For the client, Saxo seems to provide diverse research offerings

"SAXO BANK CONTINUES TO TRADE WITH ITS HEADQUARTERS IN DENMARK AND, TO DATE, HAS MORE THAN 72 NATIONALITIES EMPLOYED IN SUBSIDIARY OFFICES IN 15 COUNTRIES."

across its websites and platforms in various formats (video, articles, podcasts, and headlines). It provides in-house content, such as the daily updates published by its own analysts in Saxo’s Market Analysis section, as well as third-party content, such as the news headlines that stream from sources like Dow Jones, NewsEdge, and RanSquawk.

Independent research has concluded that Saxo Bank does an outstanding job of centralising its research within the SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms. Third-party trading signals and analysis are provided by Autochartist, which is nicely integrated into the software. It seems easy to discover relevant content, as its research articles are categorised by asset class or geopolitical themes. When viewing the EUR/USD pair, for example, you will see related news and trading ideas.

Video research is seamlessly integrated into the Saxo Bank website and its proprietary platforms. The video content itself is high-quality and includes playlists on YouTube. However, it’s worth mentioning that many of Saxo’s videos are unlisted and thus not easy to find or identify. Saxo’s focus seems to be on its websites and trading platforms rather than its YouTube channel. This approach seems to provide a much cleaner customer experience and prevent the need to bounce between YouTube and a trading platform.

The Saxo Research Team delivers quarterly outlooks and annual forecast reports, which are available in PDF and include accompanying videos. These reports are excellent for traders and investors seeking to take a theme-based position based on quality research. THE-INTL

Saxo Bank continues to trade with its headquarters in Denmark and, to date, has more than 72 nationalities employed in subsidiary offices in 15 countries.

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES

PRESIDENT & CEO OXFORD BUSINESS SERVICES APS

Mariano has over 40 years global experience as a bus iness executive. He spent ten years with KPMG, so far thirty years with British Chambers of Commerce (while also running Oxford Business Services ApS). He is a British citizen, who grew up in Kent, went to boarding school in Sussex and has a British university education. He has been married to a Dane for over 45 years and has held over 150 official anti-Brexit speeches since 2016. He both speaks and writes Danish without difficulty.

oxford-business.com

MARIANO ANTHONY DAVIES

BASQUE CHEESECAKE

WITH ITS SIGNATURE BURNT SURFACE, THIS CREAMY CHEESECAKE IS A GREAT DESSERT TO HAVE IN YOUR REPERTOIRE.

PHOTOGRAPHS & TEXT: NATASHA LIVIERO

BASQUE CHEESECAKE

MAKES 1 X 18CM CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

550g cream cheese (I used Philadelphia)

140g castor sugar

15g vanilla paste

3 XL eggs

170g cream

4g salt

METHOD:

1. Before beginning, ensure all ingredients are at room temperature.

2. Set oven to 2500C.

3. Prepare an 18cm round baking tin by cutting 2 x pieces of baking paper large enough to line the base and sides with at least 10 cm of paper sitting above the tin.

4. Place the baking tin on a baking tray, scrunch up the baking papers, smooth slightly, then place them one on top of the other in the cake tin, flattening the base and sides as much as possible (it is not supposed to be smooth).

5. With a paddle attachment on medium-low speed, beat the cream cheese, castor sugar and vanilla paste until smooth.

6. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl as you go along.

7. On low speed, add the cream and mix until the mixture is combined.

8. Lastly, add the salt. If the mixture has small lumps at this stage, whisk by hand until smooth, being careful not to incorporate too much air. The cake will still be okay if a few lumps are left behind.

9. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and tap a few times to release any air bubbles. Rest for 5 minutes before gently bursting any other bubbles that rise to the surface.

10. Bake the cheesecake for 21 - 23 minutes.

11. The surface will appear burnt and wobbly, but it will firm up as it cools. Leave to cool in the cake tin at room temperature before refrigerating overnight.

12. When ready to serve, remove the tin and baking paper. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

Notes:

* This cake is traditionally soft in the centre and firm on the sides. However, if you prefer a firmer consistency throughout, bake the cake a little longer.

NATASHA LIVIERO - PASTRY CHEF

Natasha is a pastry chef who is South African by birth and Croatian by blood. She spent many years working for a wellness publication but did an about-turn at the beginning of 2020 when she joined a culinary school to fulfil a lifelong dream to study patisserie. She’s passionate about European patisserie and loves spending time in the kitchen experimenting with recipes (while quibbling with her fe-line friends), and is always on the hunt for interesting new cookbooks.

natashaliviero

LMAKING FRIENDS IN DENMARK

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT DOMINIC J STEVENSEN

LET’S CALL A spade a spade, Denmark can be a tough nut to crack regarding making friends. Along the way, I have even heard some rather undesirable comments. I do not myself see it negatively. Are we not hoping for tolerance towards us? We should, therefore, have it for others, too. Perhaps Danes are wary of those coming from beyond its borders, and to establish valuable and lasting relationships it takes time and the opportunity to see each other’s true colours. What is wrong with that? Much as there is no business to be done here sharply and shadily, with the necessity to find out if the common ground exists in which to flourish as partners or collaborators, so it also is in the social sphere.

Let’s get real. Making friends gets harder as you get older. It’s a fact of life. To those of you who are not a partygoer hopping from one country – or location – to the next, only ever having fun with whoever is available, relationships of real note grow fewer with time. Those genuine connections of note, however, have the potential to be deeply enriching and vastly more profound. Relocating and blaming your newfound situation and its people will not really do. Establishing anything valuable takes hard work.

I know people who have come here and immediately expected to find defining relationships. If that’s your approach, you’re in the wrong country. However, there is great warmth within the confines of this beautiful small land. Far beyond the concept of hygge, there is a sense of community, and Danes possess an open-minded friendliness not found in some of Denmark’s neighbours. Whilst not pointing fingers at those who throw labels around, they are neither ‘cold,’ as I heard before moving here – it was an Argentine who first alerted me to this stereotypical view – nor the perplexing ‘Latinos of Scandinavia.’ So far-fetched are these labels, and so relative is everything, that it’s better to simply take them on board as inaccurate, comical throwaway portrayals.

Does not everything decent take time to fashion? Isn’t it worthwhile to establish trust and authentic friendship than to have fake friends with instant rapports that do not endure? Of course, it depends on what you seek and how your age might determine that. Denmark is a hive for buzzing expats and job seekers/relocated employees, many eager to incorporate themselves into Danish life.

No, people are not throwing themselves at you in more Mediterranean fashion, but nor are they frosty, distant, and uncommunicative. Quite the reverse, Danes are a sociable, curious, and, yes, it’s been said before, a cosy people. They like their lives the way they are, but they also welcome additional warmth into their cocoons.

You have to meet them halfway, maybe even more, but let’s remember this is their native country. They are not entirely closed off to socialising with foreigners and newcomers. I sense they are wary, but she or he who has not naturally developed this by middle age is indeed of a rare breed.

There is a tight sense of community, yes, but I think establishing oneself here – in the working and social spheres – presents the opportunity to connect and create foundations of friendships

that could well last. Positive vibes can often be found in the simplest of dialogues with Danes. They are attentive and thoughtful and will make friends if the chemistry is right.

If you network, have hobbies, have kids who attend kindergarten or school, or live in a residential area with a plethora of neighbours, you cannot avoid contact with Danes as well as other expats. Put simply, life is out there, as are the friends that will come with time. The loneliness does not need to last.

I have felt both welcome and isolated since my arrival here a few years ago. If you step outside of your comfort zone, embrace the Danish culture and its people rather than expecting to recreate your own country in micro-form, and show your desire to be a part of the country you now find yourself in, the pieces will slowly fall into place. You cannot rush a good thing! THE-INTL

DOMINIC J STEVENSON

WRITER / MUSICIAN / ARTIST

Dominic J Stevenson is a creative content writer, 3-time published author, musician, artist, and the innovator of The CCC Project (Connection - Communication - Culture). CCC entails capturing the culture and values of a company, its brand, its employees, and its events via words (and art). The writing brings companies closer together with their target audiences. He also does Portraits as Gifts for loved ones.

He loves to write more than anything and set up his own company Words Are Weapons in 2023. His writing has been published on many platforms - both online and in magazine format.

He has lived in Denmark since 2022, in five other countries, and has recorded one album as Vincent Bella (The Dark Side Pulling At Us). He speaks Spanish and is learning Danish. He loves the arts, tennis, football (Nottingham Forest FC), travel, languages, and laughter.

Dominic J Stevenson

AARHUS Ø

AARHUS Ø IS A NEW QUARTER IN DENMARK’S SECOND CITY AND IS THE NEIGHBOURHOOD I WOULD MOST HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SUMMER!

PHOTOGRAPHS AWC FB PAGE / VISIT AARHUS / MARKEDSHALLEN NICOLINEHUS TEXT HEATHER STORGAARD

TTHE FIRST TIME I heard of the development of Aarhus Ø, it was still in the planning stages. The de-facto capital of Jutland changed the spelling of its name in 2011, going from Århus to Aarhus, theoretically in order to be more understandable and attractive to foreign investment and visitors (and helpfully moving it from the bottom to the top of international city lists, next to Aalborg). Yet, the new development for the city was to be christened a very challenging name, despite it being a single letter- Ø. This was joked about in Jutland by cynics for quite a few years after, and tourism organisations are now trying to establish the quarter with translation to Aarhus Docklands or Aarhus East in English.

HOW TO GET THERE

Aarhus is very easy to reach from anywhere in Denmark, making it a great place to meet friends based in other regions. Trains to Aarhus run from all over Denmark, and the tram will quickly take you towards Aarhus Ø. There are also regular ferries from Zealand, as well as, of course, driving, so there’s a great range of possibilities. For a real treat, Nordic Seaplanes leave central Copenhagen and land at the harbour in Aarhus multiple times a day. The trip gives you a beautiful view of Eastern Jutland and Zealand and takes only 45 minutes.

FOOD AND DRINK

Nicolinehuset is a smart food hall and the heart of the district. Far from the downscale, paper plates and disposable cutlery of many of Denmark’s other food halls, Nicolinehuset feels more like a large restaurant where the food happens to come in varying styles. It is, therefore, perfect for groups- there is variety for eaters who disagree and, crucially, space. Before Nicolinehuset arrived, it could be hard to go out to eat in Aarhus with large groups, with many of the best food spots situated in the charming yet small shops of the Latin Quarter that spill out into the street during the summer months.

Speciality coffee and baked goods are best sourced from Monk, a coffee spot that moved to Aarhus Ø about 18 months ago. They get their pastries from local favourite Berta Bageri, and the coffee has migrated many of the regulars from the overcrowded spots in the Latin Quarter for a calmer experience. This summer, a much-

anticipated new cocktail bar named Hella is also opening from the same team behind the popular Force Majeure.

SWIMMING AND WATER SPORTS

On warm summer days, the harbour-front location of the development comes into its own. One of the beautiful things about Denmark is the ease of connecting with the water, and there are lots of spots to launch yourself from. For the best view, I would recommend heading to the side furthest from the city and swimming with an outlook towards the Mols Bjerge National Park across the bay. If open water is less your thing, there is also an outdoor swimming area with facilities, sun loungers and lifeguards, situated near plenty of cafes and bars facing the city. But, for natural water sports lovers, the best part of the space is Aarhus Watersports Complex, an

absurd, exciting cable-propelled water ski and wakeboard course.

ARCHITECTURE

The architecture is eye-catching, a stark contrast to the late 19th-century classical houses of the rest of central Aarhus. For some older residents, the new development was seen as a Copenhagen-isation of their classical home. At the same time, for many, it represents a new direction for the young, student-populationdominated city. Whatever your view, it’s certainly worth a wander among the towering white and blue apartment blocks, invoking a maritime and harbour atmosphere imaginatively with names like The Iceberg and The Lighthouse. Residential mixes seamlessly with water and leisure facilities in a way rarely achieved by new developments. THE-INTL

"One of the beautiful things about Denmark is the ease of connecting with the water, and there are lots of spots to launch yourself from."

HEATHER STORGAARD WRITER

Heather Storgaard comes from Northern Scotland, grew up in Switzerland, and lived in England and Germany. In 2017 she met her Danish husband, who proudly received British duel citizenship in 2024, and they now split their time between Central Scotland and Helgenæs, a peninsula in rural Eastern Jutland. Suitably for a Scot, Heather works with whi sky, spending her time writing and translating, with a particular soft-spot for the up-and-coming world of Nordic Whisky.

@heatherstorgaard

THE SCHOOL FOR LIFE

HØJSKOLEN IS A DANISH INVENTION THAT INFLUENCED THE WORLD. DANES TEACH US HOW NOT JUST TO MAKE A LIVING BUT TO LIVE A LIFE.

PPHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT NATÁLIA ŠEPITKOVÁ

PICTURE A SCHOOL where the traditional pressures of exams and grades are replaced with a focus on exploring your passions. Envision a community of learners who share your interests, where your drive and interests are respected and celebrated as the guiding force of your educational journey. This is the Danish Højskolen, where students are educated and empowered to shape their lives. Many young people in Denmark take a break from traditional education and enrol at a folk high school, where they can find their path in life, discover the joy of learning, and be part of a close-knit community. Research shows that individuals who attended a folk high school are more likely to complete further education than those who did not.

INFLUENCER OF THE 19 TH CENTURY

If Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig were alive today, he would become a significant influencer. The Danish pastor, philosopher, author, and teacher is one of the most influential people in Danish history. N. F. S. Grundtvig was born in 1783 when education was establishing itself as a central concept. “If democracy is to be introduced into Denmark, it must be firmly and broadly anchored in ‘the people’. And this requires popular education,” writes Ove Korsgaard in his essay Grundtvig’s Philosophy of Enlightenment and Education.

Grundtvig's revolutionary idea that education should be accessible to all, regardless of language, was a game-changer. He argued that education should be in the people's language, not Latin, which was the academic language of the time, making higher education inaccessible to the masses. His educational writings have garnered international recognition from the USA to Japan. Grundtvig's contributions to education are profound and foundational. He is hailed as a pioneer of the folk high school movement, a unique form of non-formal adult education. His ideas laid the foundation for developing folk high schools, a vital component of the modern Danish educational system.

THE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY OF LEARNING

Today, about 70 independent folk high schools are located all over Denmark. Their purpose is to provide life enlightenment, public enlightenment, and democratic education, as The Association of Folk High Schools in Denmark informs. Folk high schools are residential schools for anyone 17 and a half years or older – there is no upper age limit. You don’t need specific qualifications to attend a folk high school. There is no fixed curriculum, no exams and no grades. Students choose subjects and classes according to their aspirations and interests. Shortly, they study what makes them happy. It seems like a fair offer in Denmark, one of the happiest countries.

The motivation of an average of 40,000 people to attend a folk high school in courses of different lengths every year in Denmark

"THE PIVOTAL POINT OF FOLK HIGH SCHOOLS IS TO STUDY AND LIVE TOGETHER. FELLOWSHIP AND TOGETHERNESS GO HAND IN HAND WITH EDUCATION."

is trying to do new things, challenge themselves, and get the latest information and skills more fitting to their lives. The teaching method, based on positive motivation, dialogue and equal and friendly relations between students and teachers, also adds to its attractiveness. The combination of passionate teachers and engaged students creates a unique educational environment. According to Lisbeth Trinskjær, Chair of the Association of Folk High Schools in Denmark, Danish folk high schools cultivate a positive approach towards learning through an interest and curiositydriven form of schooling on the part of both the students and the educators. They also support people's personal, social and professional development, providing them with civic competencies and encouraging them to become active citizens within Danish society.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

The pivotal point of folk high schools is to study and live together. Fellowship and togetherness go hand in hand with education. According to the Danish Act on Folk High Schools, they must provide teaching and fellowship that challenge not only the students' minds but also their social and emotional skills. They live together, dine together, create events and projects together, and spend their free time together – all good backgrounds for studying. Students and their teachers benefit from reciprocal and equal relationships and learning from each other as equals.

An essential feature of the Danish folk high school is that the Ministry of Culture supervises it, so it has its laws, protection, and regulations. A new folk high school in Denmark must meet specific criteria to be authorised and attain the right to receive subsidies from the state. A Folk High School is a non-formal residential school offering learning opportunities in different subjects. Denmark has a long Folk High School tradition; the first school was founded in 1844. Over the past few years, an average of 40,000 people have attended a folk high school course in Denmark every year. Most (approx. 30,000) sign up for classes that last one or a few weeks, but about 10,000 people attend long-term courses from four to ten months.

There are seven types of folk high schools in Denmark that offer a wide range of courses, study trips, and specialised subjects: general schools, gymnastics and sports schools, Christian or spiritual schools, lifestyle schools, specialised schools (e.g., film, design, arts, music, etc.), youth folk high schools, and schools for senior citizens. THE-INTL

NATÁLIA ŠEPITKOVÁ FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND WRITER

Natalia is a Slovak journalist based in Aalborg, Denmark. She has around 15 years of experience in journalism. Her experiences as an editor and a reporter were founded in Slovak magazines and newspapers. She was also working as a TV reporter, a TV moderator and a host in radio broadcasting. Part of her career included working with PR and marketing. Natália is also a content creator on her social media. Follow her blog www.mamavdansku.com , where she writes about life in Denmark.

@Natália Šepitková @Mama v Dánsku

@Mum in Denmark

MAY YOUR ASPIRATIONS BE REALISED!

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT MONIKA PEDERSEN

WWITHIN THE ACADEMIC year, the month of May brings with it a plethora of exams and the closure of an educational chapter. Students in class 9 at Danish schools are finishing their official schooling obligations, while grade 12 international students are completing the last of their studies prior to heading to further education, the world of work, or international travel. It is a busy and testing month with a lot of pressure on students, parents, and educators.

It is also a time of reflection on the achievements and successes of the previous years and how they will frame and influence the next. Whilst doing this, a key word to consider is ‘success’ and how it should be interpreted.

THE MEANING OF SUCCESS

Success has many meanings in different contexts, but the common similarity is that a goal or dream is achieved. Many of us strive for success, big and small, and we also know that many small steps make up that journey.

Along the road to success, one is likely to experience challenges, setbacks, and even failures. It is not all bright and wonderful as it is conveyed in romantic movies or glossy magazines. In reality, it is this part of the journey for which we need to prepare our children and students. It is crucial to brace them for the fact that hardships can hit and that they should be equipped with strategies to deal with these unwanted episodes. This is particularly significant when starting a new aspect of life’s journey.

As a parent and a teacher, the instinct is to want to protect children from making mistakes. However, trying to prevent children from ever experiencing disappointment or having to take responsibility and bear the consequences of an unwise choice is detrimental to their development. Though unwanted, these lessons need to be learnt. Fortunately, it is possible to teach a child to approach a disheartening situation from a different angle. To do this, it is necessary to instil a positive mindset towards knockbacks.

CHANGING MINDSETS

To do this, a shift in stance is needed to see a setback as a chance to review the original approach taken for any flaws or to learn a valuable lesson that can be applied in the future - this might be the most challenging part, but key, to seeing the event as a positive building block to bigger success. By working with a child to see an oversight not as an error but as a learning opportunity to be embraced, the young person stands every chance of dealing effectively with future demanding situations whilst maintaining his/her confidence and finding the strength to try again.

By building this capacity into a student’s mindset, the real strength of a person is forged, along with traits of resilience, determination, and persistence. These, among other qualities, are the ones which will assist a person to deal with adversity and appreciate the necessary steps towards reaching the pinnacle of his/her target.

It is also the perception of what success is that is important for

students to consider. To see success as a celebration of a series of actions or decisions in a range of spheres and not as a single trophy helps a child gain a broader definition. It is this mindset that encourages a child to see the upside of life and the simple experiences that create well-being and happiness, for example, the beauty of a sunny day or the sharing of homemade cake with their family. It paves the way to seeing obstacles as hurdles that can be overcome, and in doing so, it develops a sense of purpose and control and a willingness to take risks and grow stronger. It is the process of forming, now commonly referred to as ‘grit’, or as was known in yesteryear’s terms as ‘backbone’. Adjusting a child’s perception and interpretation through the vocabulary used, the reactions to decisions and outcomes, and the maintenance of a reflective, buoyant mind enables children to develop a positive, grounded outlook that will help them see challenges as the chance to grow and life is a series of opportunities towards the realisation of their aspirations. THE-INTL

"Along the road to success, one is likely to experience challenges, setbacks, and even failures."

MONIKA PEDERSEN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR

Monika comes from the London area of the UK, where she worked in the state system and the international school system, as an English teacher of 11-18 students and then a high school principal. She has also worked in leadership roles in Germany and in Denmark. She has an overview of the British, International, American, and the Danish system. She has many years of experience and continues to enjoy the profession. She has relocated to Denmark with her Danish husband.

@monikapedersen

@monikapedersen

@monikapedersen

RELIGIONS AS LIFE PHILOSOPHY

PHOTOGRAPHS PEXELS TEXT OPHELIA WU

HHERE'S THE THING about religion: it's deeply personal and as unique as the people who follow it. In my own life, I've come to see religion as more of a moral compass—pointing toward a life filled with kindness, tenderness, and a break from the never-ending carousel of woes. I grew up with a mix of Buddhism at home and a side of Catholic schooling, complete with all the trimmings—masses and commandments galore. Honestly, it felt pretty irrelevant to me back then. It wasn't until I hit a rough patch that I truly dived into Buddhism's ocean of wisdom. Initially, I was stressed about getting everything right and not messing up the religious "rules". But the more I learned, the more I realised religion is about being a good human being and being kind to others—not about getting lost in the details.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE CHOICES

Buddhism talks a lot about how our attachment to outcomes and emotions are often sources of our problems and sufferings. It emphasises letting go of the stuff that drags us down—like our reactions to the little daily annoyances. It teaches us that our sorrows often come from clinging too tightly to things that were never meant to last. The whole point is to reach a state where you're complete, even when you're embracing the big emptiness of it all. Embracing the impermanence and illusory nature of life, we learn to ascribe meaning selectively. The Buddha, "the Enlightened One," personifies this awakening, with Nirvana representing an ultimate state of emptiness and completeness. Central to Buddhist belief is the concept of reincarnation, involving six realms of existence informed by one's actions and karma—be they virtuous or otherwise. The cycle's culmination is escaping these realms and achieving freedom from suffering.

Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" echoes these ideas, depicting the soul's post-mortem fate and a just divine retribution or reward system. His journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise mirrors Buddhist thought, where every

"RELIGION

IS MORE THAN AN IDEOLOGY OR A SET OF RITUALS; IT'S THE ART OF LIVING WITH PURPOSE, COMPASSION, AND A HEART OPEN TO THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES OF THE SOUL." - CHRIS ANDERSON - HEAD OF TED

person battles temptation and sin but has the agency to change, avoid divine penalty, and seek Paradise's eternal bliss. Similarly, Christianity's narrative of Adam and Eve points to innate sin, a universal human inheritance, and the susceptibility to falter under trial and temptation; you find these duplicate threads: good and bad actions leading to different fates and the chance to change your path. The real win is to break out of this cycle altogether and how to make every action and decision count through fostering kindness, compassion, and a life purpose.

LET GO TO HAVE IT ALL

When you live and lead with an open heart, you open up to infinite possibilities that nourish your life and soul. Every soul is here to experience life, and we only get this chance once - why not make

good use of it and do good?

At the end of the day, all these religions come down to one thing: being good to each other. If we live like that, all the little bothers—like getting ticked off when someone skips the queue, failing the maths test, unrequited love, loss in investment, etc. —start to fade away. We stay cool, make smarter choices, and hold onto fewer bad feelings. It's all about aiming for a kinder life, not just for ourselves but for everyone. That's the heart of it, whether you're wearing robes, a cross, or just trying to be a little better every day. While I believe the destination is as important as the journey if we apply or use religion wisely as a life philosophy to master the art of compassion, every experience will be enriched with love and joy - imagine the collective impact that can make. THE-INTL

OPHELIA WU FASHION CONSULTANT & JOURNALIST

Like her hometown Hong Kong, Ophelia has a diverse background and upbringing. She moved to Copenhagen in 2019 after 10 years of living in London. Her fashion and journalism career began in 2007 at ELLE Hong Kong magazine, and later on as an online stylist at Net-A-Porter.com in the UK; she has worked with all sorts of creatives, brands and celebrities globally. She now works on everything fashion and communicationrelated. With her love of travelling and places her work brought her to, people she met from all walks of life inspired her to start her own business M for Minimal: a place to raise the awareness of going back to basics through conscious consumption and mindfulness with a touch of spirituality - something she has been practising since her teenage years.

@mforminimal.com

@mforminimal.mfm

@opheliawu