Standing up for those who need it most
- The International
- Nov 16
- 5 min read
Ali Lewis introduces one of the internationals representing the Socialistisk Folkeparti (The Green Party), Almina Nikontovic is standing as a candidate for Frederikshavn Municipality and the North Denmark Region.
Photographs: Almina Nikontovic
Text: Ali Lewis
Almina Nikontovic is one of life’s natural cheerleaders. “I always say to people, ‘You can do it!’ But somebody needs to be standing on the other side helping you to get through,” she says. Almina, who is the only regional candidate for SF from Frederikshavn Municipality and also the municipality’s only international candidate, has first-hand experience of how vital that support is. Since arriving in Denmark at the age of 13, a refugee of the war in Bosnia, she’s devoted herself to helping others.
“My father decided that we needed to flee Bosnia”, Almina remembers. The family’s original plan was to join relatives in Sweden, but changing rules meant Denmark would become home. Almina still remembers the exact date - 1st March 1993 - having travelled by bus through Europe. The family lived in asylum centres around Frederikshavn for three years, not knowing if they would be allowed to remain in the country and unable to work, before they were finally granted residence.
Almina is profoundly grateful to Denmark, saying the country “empowered” her: “You lose everything in one night - your life, your childhood, your friends, your school, your country. You see terrible things happen to people you love. But then you come to a place where everyone is nice and sweet and believes in you, opening the door for you and saying you can do it.” She breaks down a little as she talks. “It’s good tears,” she says. “Because I remember how important it is that someone actually believes in you.”
A key person in Almina’s life was an inspirational Danish teacher who taught her in one of the asylum centres she lived in. He gave her the confidence to apply to a fast-track Gymnasium, learn Danish and apply to Aalborg University. “He said, ‘You can do this! Trust me!” she says. She started studying there at just 17. Too young to apply for an SU grant and with her parents unable to afford for her to live in the city, she travelled to campus every day on the bus.
Entering politics
Almina’s two decades of experience working for Frederikshavn Municipality inspired her to run for the local council in 2018, and then, this year, for North Denmark Region. “I’m an international by heart,” she says. “That’s why all my adult life I have been working on the other side, welcoming internationals and young people, believing in them and saying they can also do it. I always stand for service, to help others.”
She stood for the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiet), never expecting to win, and has been a local councillor ever since. She became independent in late 2024 and then joined the Green Party (SF) at the start of this year, feeling the party’s policies aligned better with her own values. “A few parties approached me to ask if I would run, and I just laughed and said, ‘You’re crazy! I can’t do that!” she says. But someone said, “Yes, you can. You will need to take your time, learn many things, and you will have to adapt, but you can do it.”
Almina’s campaign
This year, Almina is running for North Denmark Region for the first time, and she’s ready to take on the challenge: “I need a lot of votes, but I will try and do my best,” she says. “I want to make changes and ensure everyone here has the same possibilities”.
Almina was inspired to run for the regional elections through her current municipality role, supporting young people in need, which she has held for the past three years. “Every day I meet young people falling between the cracks because their needs aren’t being met,” she says. “I can relate to the anxieties they have because I experienced that too. If they had the right diagnoses and the right support, it would make such a difference. Instead, they have bad experience after bad experience, and it hurts them. If I’m working at a higher level, for the region, I can make a change.” Almina wants to see wait times for young people to see health specialists and get much-needed diagnoses reduced.
She also wants to improve access to healthcare facilities, pointing out the geographically large area that makes up North Denmark. “People living in more rural areas should have the same access to health care as people living in Aalborg,” Almina says. “Elderly people need more focus too, and better hospital care”.
In terms of Frederikshavn Municipality, Almina is passionate about attracting more skilled, qualified workers to the area. “We have a large elderly population,” she says. “We need more people to settle down in Frederikshavn so companies have labor, we get families with children, we fill the schools and kindergartens. It’s a great municipality. If you’re living in a city and can’t find work, come here. We need you!”
She also wants to support young people in the area: “They are our future and at the moment we have nearly 600 young people who are not in jobs or education. We need much more support for them because we need them.”
Final thoughts
Almina also feels strongly about the importance of diversity in Denmark. She’s looking forward to attending a Diversity Day in Frederikshavn the day after our interview. To her, diversity means valuing all kinds of differences, including people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people. “Diversity is building our society and giving possibilities to so many people in Denmark that they might not have in their own countries if they’re internationals,” she says. “Many countries don’t value diversity. It’s important to me that everyone has a place in our society and everybody has the right to be themselves.”
Despite living here for over thirty years, Almina still identifies as firmly international. “I have two countries,” she says. “In my heart, I’m an international. Everything about my origin story comes from another culture. I carry that with me, and I don’t want to lose it. I’ve also given that to my daughter. It’s extremely important. You can be very well integrated, and I am. I’ve been a Danish citizen since I was 18. It’s good to be integrated, but you don’t need to become assimilated. You need to keep your uniqueness when you come here, and remember your origins as well as why you came here.”
Almina is alert to the challenges internationals face: “You have so many things in your head: ‘This is hard. I’m never going to make it. What did I do? Why did I come here? What about my children?’ You have so much in your head, and it’s ok to give that a place. But you also need to say to yourself, yes, it’s hard. People who say it’s not - I don’t think they’re telling the truth! But it’s ok. Breathe. Take a step day by day.”
What advice would Almina give to internationals who are struggling? "Find your network", she says. "Get a network of people who share your culture, if you can, but make a new network here, then build a bridge between them. The Danish language is important, but it’s actually more important to get to know Danish culture. That can be a huge challenge.”
Ever positive, Almina firmly believes, “When you have something you want to contribute, there is a place for it here in Denmark. It’s a wonderful country to show yourself and be a part of society. You just have to get through the challenges in the beginning.”
Almina is undaunted by the work ahead of her, running for the region and the municipality. “I like challenges and meeting new people,” she says. “I like to evolve.” And she believes in wearing her heart on her sleeve. “What you see is what you get with me,” she laughs. “It doesn’t get better or worse than that!”
