A voice and space for internationals, by internationals

As The International prepares to launch its collaboration with the Last Week in Denmark newsletter, Founders Lyndsay Jensen and Narcis Matache discuss their shared vision, determination and focus.

Photographs: Alex Flutur

Text: Ophelia Wu & Ali Lewis-Strevens

Creative: Gail Steytler Streak

Every relocation has a story: some for adventure, some for change, some for love. For Lyndsay Jensen, founder of The International, it was a mix of practicality, hope, and sacrifice for her children’s well-being. Last Week in Denmark, founder Narcis Matache’s story was wildly different. An 18-year-old student with a love of American college movies, he had a hunger to broaden his horizons and experience more in every sense.

Lyndsay and Narcis’s paths wouldn’t cross for some years. But when they finally met, they found they shared beliefs and values that ran far deeper than their surface differences. Now, they’re excited to take this to the next level by collaborating on a new media venture.

Narcis’s story:

A free university education in Denmark? Amazing!

I knew I could never afford to study in the US, where the movies I loved were set,” Narcis laughs. “But I learned I could study anywhere in Europe, in English, and for free! I was like, Wow, amazing!” He chose Denmark simply because it was the nearest country to Romania, where he was born and raised, offering all he was looking for.

Narcis landed in Aalborg in 2009, open to all his new city had to offer. However, he found a series of closed doors. There were still very few internationals in Denmark at the time, particularly outside Copenhagen. “I knew every other international student in Aalborg by name because there were so few of us,” he remembers. “We would all hang out together.”

Political ambitions

Narcis’s university days nurtured his passion for representation and social justice. He was growing increasingly frustrated by the inferior experience he saw international students getting and decided to run for the university’s student council. Again, he met a closed door. “I was told: ‘But you’re not Danish’” he remembers. “I said, ‘But I’m a student here!’ I was told that there had never been international students in the student council. I said, ‘Fine. I will be the first!

So was he successful? He laughs. “No! The university didn’t encourage international students to vote, so I didn’t win, but it opened people’s eyes.” His determination paved the way for others: a few years later, there was an international on the student council.

The pursuit of visibility, representation, and empowerment would shape Narcis’s life. “If I see something that’s not ok, I will try to do something about it. I think that’s been my life story,” he says. “I always try to break through the glass. I’ve always been like, ‘Guys, we are also here. Please let us be visible somehow.’ Every opportunity I get, I try to plant a seed in someone’s head: Hey, what if you tried to do something for internationals here, in any field?

Last Week in Denmark Launches

Last Week in Denmark was a Pandemic project. By then, Narcis was well known not only on Aalborg’s political scene but also much further afield, having worked as a campaign manager and political advisor. He had also become the first non-Dane to be elected to a Danish regional council. When COVID struck, he found many internationals were contacting him, hoping he could answer their questions about the ever-changing, often confusing government regulations. “I couldn’t keep up with the hundreds of messages I was getting, so I started to write a daily update to keep internationals informed,” he says. “Then people started asking me to include other aspects of Danish current affairs and the law, so I did.” The emails evolved into a LinkedIn newsletter, which later became a weekly Substack newsletter and the “universe” that is now Last Week in Denmark. It’s published every Sunday, and an average of 100,000 people read it every month.

“It grew in a completely organic way, through people offering to help us out, like designing a logo or helping us set up a website. Even the first edition had 3000 readers. There are other English publications in Denmark, but there seemed to be a need for something different,” Narcis says.

"I always say international because it's a term of pride. you should take pride in being someone who has evolved, is influenced by many cultures, and can co-exist with others who are not the same as you."

Growth of the LWID Universe

Unsurprisingly, empowering individuals is at the heart of how Last Week in Denmark works. “We have around a hundred volunteers,” Narcis says. “It’s a very decentralised, laissez-faire system where people are leaders in their own area; for example, the podcast has a leader, Instagram has another leader, and all the language editions have their own leaders. The leaders have the freedom to do what they think is best in that area. We all do this in our free time, as volunteers, so we have to work on our own initiative. I see it as an opportunity for our volunteers to really have an impact in the way they want.”

Narcis remains one of the hundred very active volunteers. He still writes the summary of the week’s events as covered across the various Danish media, which is the core of the Substack newsletter itself. How does he find the time? “Every evening I sit and write after I put my daughter to sleep,” he says. His brain is always turning, he says, thinking of new ideas and how things could be done better.

This year, Last Week in Denmark was awarded Danish government funding, enabling it to cover some costs and set its sights on further growth. But its mission remains the same: to empower people with information. And not just internationals: Narcis is proud that Danes also read the newsletter. The word “international” is fiercely important to him. “I hate the word foreigner,” he laughs. “We need to put it in a box and burn it! I always say international because it’s a term of pride. You should take pride in being someone who has evolved, is influenced by many cultures, and can co-exist with others who are not the same as you.” It’s a sentiment that reverberates through not only the weekly newsletter but across the Last Week in Denmark universe as a whole.

Lyndsay’s story:

Becoming a founder and advocate in Denmark

British by birth but raised in South Africa, Lyndsay met her Danish husband on one of the first chat-based platforms. After only a short time chatting, they met in Denmark - and, as they say, the rest is history. Nicolaj never felt particularly tied to one country, only to his family, so he easily made the move to South Africa, where they began their life together.

They had two sons, Connor and Bjørn, while continuing their careers - Lyndsay as a Creative Director and Managing Editor, Nicolaj in IT. In 2004, their youngest was born prematurely and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. While South Africa offered family support and a good lifestyle, it became clear that Denmark would provide greater opportunities for both boys in terms of healthcare and education. On their paediatrician’s advice, they moved to Denmark in February 2008, arriving in the depths of a freezing winter.

Adjusting to a new reality

The “just try Denmark out” mindset became a 17-year reality. Lyndsay thought she understood Danish culture through her husband and his family, but everyday life was different. Despite her experience in publishing, marketing, and branding, professional and social integration proved more challenging than expected - especially while navigating systems for both boys.

“Support for newly arrived internationals was almost non-existent. Even in Copenhagen, it felt isolating: no events, no networking groups, no International House to guide you through Danish life,” Lyndsay recalls. With Nicolaj working full-time, she often faced practicalities alone - dealing with the kommune, schools, and everyday essentials. Thankfully, her father-in-law had helped them secure an accessible apartment in Ørestad, which was great as it was close to public transport, the municipality and governmental buildings.

Becoming a fierce advocate

While her elder son adapted quickly - learning Danish at an integration school Lyndsay fondly calls the “mini-UN” - she soon realised she would need to become the voice for her non-verbal son, Bjørn. She remembers those first years as the most stressful of her life: battling bureaucracy in a language she barely understood, balancing care, job hunting, and the basics of settling in. Exhausted and anxious, she often felt she was losing part of herself while trying to secure the best support for her children.

Along with her husband, and her small circle of friends in Denmark, family and friends in South Africa and the UK, kept her grounded. Repeated career rejections and long stretches of balancing freelance work with full-time care tested her and the family. Yet they also shaped her into a determined advocate - not only for Bjørn but for herself.

Advocacy, determination and care

Eventually, Lyndsay shifted to full-time freelancing to balance work with her youngest’s complex care. Years later, she and Nicolaj made the very difficult decision that Bjørn would move into full-time care where his needs could be met more fully. Soon after, their eldest son moved abroad. Suddenly facing an empty nest, they felt the grief of change despite knowing their sons were safe and doing well.

“After Bjørn moved out, the absence of him being at home - and the routines and sleepless nights that came with his care - could have pulled me into depression. But I knew I had to keep moving forward. I had to keep being his advocate, learning about disability systems in Denmark, and improving his situation, even if he wasn’t at home anymore. At the same time, Nicolaj and I could simply be mom and dad again. We loved bringing Bjørn home for visits, going out together, and enjoying the moments where he seemed to have his parents back - this time with more energy and presence to give him.”

With more time and energy, Lyndsay began to pursue new projects, drawing on her 25 years in publishing. She went on to become the founder of The International, and later launched the NGO Changing Places Danmark - a movement inspired by Bjørn, focused on improving public bathroom facilities for people with disabilities. She also lent her voice to campaigns like #TheForgottenGold, championing the many internationals in Denmark who feel invisible in the job market.

“Many international families are walking their own path - no two are alike. You’re not alone, and each of us learns what ‘keep going’ really means,” she reflects.

"Many international families are walking their own path - no two are alike. You're not alone, and each of us learns what 'keep going' really means."

How The International was born

Seven years ago, the idea for The International emerged over a dinner with friends. What started as a playful idea became a clear mission: a newspaper-format magazine for internationals, by internationals - offering hope, connection, and community.

Lyndsay couldn’t bear to see more friends leaving Denmark out of frustration. “I was finally at peace with my love-hate relationship with Denmark - we had grown to love each other over time,” she jokingly says. “Seeing people leave felt unfair, both to them and to Denmark. They were losing out on each other’s skills and talents.”

With finance and logistics support from her business partner, Kenneth, they turned the idea into reality. But as the founder and Editor-In-Chief, the vision and direction of the publication have always been hers.

Since then, The International has grown steadily, working with over 219 volunteers from 89 nationalities and publishing more than 2,600 articles. The magazine reflects the diversity Lyndsay set out to champion. “I’m nothing without my team - it’s more of a family, where everyone has a seat at the table,” she says.

Even during COVID-19, when printing paused, the online community thrived. Whenever Lyndsay doubted continuing, a message of thanks from a reader or team member reminded her why she kept going. “These are my people, my community. That’s why I still do this.”

At its heart, that’s what Lyndsay loves most: a big, beautiful cultural mix - a publication for internationals, by internationals, telling their stories of life in Denmark.

A meeting of minds and visions

Narcis and Lyndsay first crossed paths after he made a post on an international Facebook group that went viral. He’d been aware of The International for some time. “I really respect Lyndsay. She has shared Last Week in Denmark’s mission for a long time, long before we even existed,” Narcis says. “It’s a significant achievement to publish a magazine, and in print, for so many years. Lyndsay has allowed internationals to find a home to write and read about themselves, and for Danes to see the perspectives of internationals. The International has helped build bridges through understanding. I also resonate very much with the title, of course!” he laughs.

Lyndsay, in turn, was impressed by Narcis’s political insight. She asked him to write a monthly column for The International on politics, the law and current affairs. “Sometimes Lyndsay would have to rein me in because I’d be too outspoken in what I was writing,” Narcis remembers. So did she fire him in the end?! He laughs again. “No! Life just took over, and I was focusing more on Last Week in Denmark. But Lyndsay and I always stayed in touch. We kept meeting each other at the same events, and we’d always end up in a corner, having a deep conversation about the state of Denmark and what internationals here need.”

On collaboration

Lyndsay believes in timing: “When the stars align, you take the chance,” she says. Back in 2010, while working at another newspaper, she pitched the idea of creating an English-language media house - print, digital, even radio - only to be laughed at and dismissed by the team.

But Lyndsay continued to believe in her vision. So when Narcis recently floated the same idea at Last Week in Denmark’s 5th birthday celebrations, she smiled to herself as she knew she had found the right team to push this mission forward, to do more, and have a stronger voice in Denmark. Having collaborated with Narcis on her own team and now seeing him grow Last Week in Denmark, she knew he was the real deal: ambitious, entrepreneurial, and exactly the type of person she resonates with. When Narcis suggested to Lyndsay that they work together, it felt like a perfect fit in a way that previous potential collaborations hadn’t. Narcis could bring expertise in political and news focus; The International could bring expertise in community, storytelling and lifestyle, which Last Week in Denmark had started to venture into more recently. Together, it could be a powerful mix.

The future

This September, at International Citizen Days, one of the biggest events for internationals to greet and meet, The International relaunches its print version after COVID forced it online. With the print relaunch, Lyndsay wants the paper back in full swing print, visible in all of Denmark to both internationals and Danes, showcasing the value of the 16% of Denmark’s population who are internationals. “Coming from South Africa, I know how powerful diversity can be,” she says. She also wants #TheForgottenGold, the hidden talents already in Denmark, to be seen, valued and heard.

Bringing together two trusted voices in Sjælland and Jutland, The International and Last Week in Denmark are committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for internationals by drawing on both teams’ expertise. Whether it is a timely update on news and politics, a spotlight on the richness of diversity within the community, or a leisurely read about Denmark’s art scene, the aim is to provide a collaborative platform where readers can truly feel part of this wonderful country.

“This is a time of transition, and as every international knows, there is always a process and a journey before reaching the destination,” says Narcis. “We are in the early days of shaping how we work together, and we will keep readers informed over time. But we’re all really excited about the future.”

“Readers can trust that we have their best interests at heart, because both our teams believe in the beauty of something made by internationals and run by internationals,” says Lyndsay. “Like a warm hug from a friend afar, we are here to remind you: we’ve got you, and you are not alone.”