The Danish Folk High School

💛AN OVERWHELMING CHANGE💙
A few months ago, Yevheniia Pohorila did volunteer work in Ukraine and contributed to the reconstruction of the many houses that have been destroyed by Russian bombs.

Now the 18-year-old Ukrainian from Kyiv is at Brandbjerg Højskole, surrounded by green nature and young people from both Denmark and other countries.

"It feels a bit like that now I can combine all the things I've been missing in the past year: having friends close by, being able to try different things, being creative and having less responsibility. It's been great to feel young again in a way," she says.

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Yevheniia is one of the about 35 young people who have received support to go to a Danish folk high school.

This spring Entrepreneur Marius Pedersen's Foundation decided to donate further 250.000 kroner. This means that even more young people can apply for support for a stay this fall. 🫶

Yevheniia from Ukraine is staying at a Danish folk high school: I can share stories about our youth In March, 18-year-old Yevheniia traveled from Kyiv in Ukraine to Brandbjerg Højskole. A new donation is giving more young people fra Ukraine the opportunity to go to a folkehøjskole this fall.

Jack is from the US and has decided to go to a Danish folk high school. He needs a fresh start, to become more independent and to feel like a new person. You can meet Jack here and read more about the folk high schools.

What changed? Jack is from the US and has decided to go to a Danish folk high school. He needs a fresh start, to become more independent and to feel like a new person. Jack tells his story in this video.

A big projekt has folk high schools from all over the world working to find solutions for a sustainable transition. This year the member folk high schools gathered physically for the first time at a seminar in Denmark.

Folk high schools from all over the world met to discuss sustainability A big projekt has folk high schools from all over the world working to find solutions for a sustainable transition. This year the member folk high schools gathered physically for the first time at a seminar in Denmark.

The Entrepreneur Marius Pedersen’s Foundation has donated 250.000 Danish kroner to help young Ukrainians who want to go to a folk high school in Denmark. The deadline for applications is November 1st.

Foundation donates a large amount to help young people from Ukraine stay at Danish folk high schools The Entrepreneur Marius Pedersen’s Foundation has donated 250.000 Danish kroner to help young Ukrainians who want to go to a folk high school in Denmark. The deadline for applications is on November 1st.

The folk high schools can help strengthen social cohesion, says Ewa Smuk Stratenwerth, who is founder and head of The Ecological Folk High School in Grzybów in Poland.

"The way I see it, the folk high schools have really changed Danish society and helped make you Danish. It is a beautiful legacy, and you can discuss issues without agreeing. We need that in Poland. We don't need to copy the Danish model completely, but we can use it to plant seeds and inspire," she says.

Folk high school gathers people from the urban and rural areas in Poland: We must help create hope The folk high schools can help strengthen social cohesion, says Ewa Smuk Stratenwerth, who is founder and head of The Ecological Folk High School in Grzybów in Poland. She is visiting the annual meeting of the Danish folk high schools this week.

When Signe Emilie Baun was seven years old her family moved to Canada. Growing up she was constantly told stories about Denmark, and that inspired her to experience the country through a stay at a folk high school.

Danish-Canadian Signe attends Uldum Højskole: ”It has been great to get to know the Danish culture” When Signe Emilie Baun was seven years old her family moved to Canada. Growing up she was constantly told stories about Denmark, and that inspired her to experience the country through a stay at a folk high school.

The war is still raging in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainian families have been forced to flee, while others have stayed to fight. Even though the war is fought far away, it is followed closely and leaves its marks on the folk high schools in Denmark. Meet some of the first Ukrainian refugees at the Danish folk high schools.

Meet some of the first Ukrainian refugees at the Danish folk high schools: The students and the activities are helping us to ”switch off the brain” At first the Danish folk high schools started a great number of initiatives that could help war-stricken Ukrainians at a distance. Now more Ukrainian refugees have been invited to stay at the folk high school and to experience the everyday life of the students

Daria Polishchuk was at Brenderup Højskole when the Russians attacked Ukraine in February. My life is on pause, the 29-year-old Ukrainian said in an interview earlier this year.

”The first thing I do when I wake up is to check the news” Daria Polishchuk was at Brenderup Højskole when the Russians attacked Ukraine in February. My life is on pause, the 29-year-old Ukrainian said in an interview earlier this year.

Are you interested in danish folk high schools or want to know more? 💡

Join our inspiration meeting on Zoom and listen to former students share their experiences with everyday life and subjects at a folk high school. Read more and sign up on the bottom link.

Do you want your friends to learn about folk high schools or maybe attend one as well? Feel free to share the link or tag them in comments. 🚀

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What is a folk high school?
A folk high school is a non-formal residential school offering learning opportunities in almost any subject. It is a boarding school, so you sleep, eat, study and spend your spare time at the school. There are no academic requirements for admittance, and there are no exams.

Who will you meet at folk high school?
One of the main benefits of the Højskole is the intercultural meeting of people with common interests. Young Danes and foreigners use the Højskole as a steppingstone to further education. The international environment of the schools provides a solid network as well as friends for life. You’ll meet young people just leaving high school; university students taking a year off, 25-year-olds standing in a crossroad etc.

How is the teaching?
The teaching is characterized by professionalism and dedication and classes are based on dialogue and mutual learning between teachers and student. The main focus is to discover and strengthen the unique skills of each student in a challenging yet supportive social atmosphere. It is a prerequisite that you speak a language that enables you to participate in classes and social life at the school, typically English.

Online inspiration meeting The danish folk high schools are inviting you to an online inspiration meeting. Join us on Zoom and listen to students share their experiences with everyday life and subjects at a folk high school.