Denmark launches new initiatives to boost youth engagement

New initiatives are being launched in Denmark to increase youth engagement in both local communities and democratic processes.

In Thisted Municipality, the newly rebranded Ungdomsskolen Thy is launching with a focus on direct influence for young people. The school aims to be flexible by listening to youth desires through the establishment of a Youth Council. The organization operates five youth houses in Thisted, Hanstholm, Snedsted, Hurup, and Hannæs-Østerild, providing safe spaces for socializing, gaming, and creative activities.

Simultaneously, the Ungdommens Folkemøde festival is preparing for its upcoming event on September 2-3. Under the theme ‘While we are... young’, the festival seeks to foster democratic participation. Previous analyses indicated that the festival significantly increases participants' desire to engage in society, with the proportion of young people feeling engaged rising from 50 percent to 90 percent during the event.