Ukrainian youths in Denmark

A young community comes to life.

Photographs: Crossing Borders

Text: Jess Hearne

In October 2024, Danish non-profit organisation Crossing Borders launched an ambitious project titled Empowering Ukrainian Youths, providing young Ukrainians with the tools to build new lives for themselves in Denmark after fleeing war and uncertainty. Thanks to the generous financial support of Egmont and Spar Nord, community hubs were established in Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg - sparking connections, inspiring creativity and offering new opportunities to this remarkable group of young people. I spoke to the people behind the project to find out what exciting things are happening inside these hubs, as well as what’s next for this inspirational nationwide community.

Safe spaces for expression and empowerment

Crossing Borders, a Copenhagen-based civil society organisation dedicated to dialogue, diversity, and active citizenship, has spent more than two decades breaking down literal and metaphorical barriers to youth empowerment worldwide. With projects spanning education, activism, and capacity-building, its work has long centred around uniting diverse individuals in the common goal of making our world a better place.

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine saw over 40,000 displaced people arrive in Denmark. What followed was a surge in providing practical support for Ukrainians, ranging from government-funded programmes to NGO-led initiatives largely focused on children, families and the elderly. However, among the displaced were an unexpected yet significant number of teenagers and young people, who made up roughly 25% of the total number of Ukrainians who had recently arrived in Denmark. Since 2022, these young people have adjusted well to life in Danish society, with many expressing the desire to reside here on a long-term basis. However, as is the struggle for many of us internationals, integration has been a challenge. For the team at Crossing Borders, the need for supportive, safe spaces for Ukrainian youths was clear.

Elisabeth Fredskilde, Project Coordinator for Empowering Ukrainian Youths, describes the initiative as a natural next step for Crossing Borders: “We wanted to create an environment where young Ukrainians can connect, express themselves and learn practical skills. Many of them have been through so much – they deserve a space that centres them, where they feel heard.” In partnership with local municipalities, the project also aims to strengthen pre-existing connections in bringing services to communities across the country. Elisabeth describes her own contextual knowledge of municipal practices as a great advantage, helping her to communicate effectively and act as a bridge between Danish administration and the Ukrainian community. In addition, her Danish-Ecuadorian background brings a rich cross-cultural perspective to the role, emphasising the value of co-creation when establishing youth hubs for young Ukrainians across the country. “It was essential to us that this wasn’t something made for Ukrainian youth, but with them. We recruited Ukrainian coordinators for each hub, and everything from the events to the workshops has been shaped by their ideas and the needs of their community.”

Fostering community in Aarhus

Marina Zhukovska, a software engineer and educator, is the Hub Coordinator for Aarhus. Like many of the participants, she came to Denmark after the outbreak of war in 2022 and has had to navigate life as a young person in a new country.

For Marina, being a hub coordinator is much more than just a professional opportunity. “My motivation was to be useful and to make a difference for Ukrainian youth who are struggling to find their place,” she explains. “I’ve been through it – moving here, starting from scratch, figuring things out. So I knew I wanted to be part of something that made that process easier for others.”

The Aarhus hub has already hosted a series of events, from cultural evenings and food tastings to job-seeking workshops and CV seminars. As Marina says herself, something is compelling in the act of coming together for a common purpose: “What we hear again and again is that people feel less alone. That’s the biggest thing. Many are far from family and have lost their usual support systems. Being able to speak Ukrainian, to meet others in the same situation, makes a big difference.”

One of Marina’s highlights was seeing the growth in the young people involved. “Some come in shy and unsure, but they leave with new confidence. They start to take ownership, suggest ideas, and even lead their own activities. That’s what this is all about.”

Aalborg: A new kind of family

Further north, Aalborg Hub Coordinator Olha Terentieva is seeing similar shifts take place. A graphic designer and community builder at heart, Olha jumped at the chance to become an instrumental part in creating a safe space for Ukrainian youths in her local community. “I applied because I really wanted to help young Ukrainians feel safe, seen, heard, and ‘at home’ in Denmark,” she says. “Hubs like this are exactly what people need – now and in the future.”

Olha describes the gatherings as a chosen family for many participants. “Some people come to our events and say, ‘Thank you—I didn’t have anyone here before. ‘It means a lot to them. We laugh, we share food, we speak our language. It’s not just support; it’s joy.” From book clubs and board game nights to workshops on navigating the Danish labour market, the Aalborg hub goes to great lengths to ensure there’s an activity suited to everyone.

However, such community organisations also face the occasional challenge. Scheduling events to fit around work, studies, and familial obligations can be tricky, but the payoff is what ultimately makes the effort worth it. “Every time we meet, there’s this energy,” she adds. “People are so motivated, open-minded and eager to learn. They’re not just adapting – they’re shaping their future.”

"Back at Crossing Borders’ HQ, Elisabeth is keen to highlight that the project is still evolving and that the real impact is yet to come. “Our initial goal was to establish four strong hubs where young Ukrainians could gather and grow, but we’re already seeing these become platforms for much more – from civic engagement and creative expression to leadership development,” she says."

This is just the beginning

Back at Crossing Borders’ HQ, Elisabeth is keen to highlight that the project is still evolving and that the real impact is yet to come. “Our initial goal was to establish four strong hubs where young Ukrainians could gather and grow, but we’re already seeing these become platforms for much more – from civic engagement and creative expression to leadership development,” she says.

Workshops have ranged from Danish language sessions and job readiness to creative arts, debate clubs and cooking classes. “We’re looking at what’s relevant to the youth and responding dynamically. That might be mental health support one week and a film night the next.”

Elisabeth also underscores the role of local collaboration, mentioning the value that partnerships with municipalities, universities, libraries and youth organisations across Denmark have brought to the project. “Integration doesn’t happen in isolation. We want to bridge Ukrainian youth with the wider Danish society in a way that feels empowering, not overwhelming.”

Looking to the future

So, what’s next for Empowering Ukrainian Youth?

For starters, expanding reach. Growing awareness means more young Ukrainians are finding their way to the hubs, so the team is looking at how to scale activities, offer mentorship and even support small-scale youth-led initiatives within the network.

Elisabeth also hopes that the project will be anchored in more towns and cities across Denmark. “We’ve seen what a difference this makes, but we know there’s more work to be done. With sustained support, we can keep creating opportunities and making space for young Ukrainians not just to survive in Denmark, but to thrive.”

From the dynamic young leaders of the hubs themselves, there’s no shortage of dreams.

Marina envisions cross-city meetups and cultural exchanges, while Olha hopes for a permanent youth space in Aalborg. Both talk of expanding the team, training youth ambassadors, and continuing to push boundaries. As Olha puts it, “Hopefully, in the future, more people will know about our project, and we will create an even bigger, safe community to have fun and quality time together!”

Reach out, show up and get involved!

Ultimately, Empowering Ukrainian Youth is more than a response to crisis – it’s a bold investment in possibility. At its heart, it’s about community: showing up for each other, lifting each other up and making space for the kind of belonging that transcends language, geography or status.

Whether it’s a conversation over tea in Aalborg, a CV-writing workshop in Aarhus or a movie night in Copenhagen, these hubs are planting seeds. And if the early months of the project are anything to go by, those seeds are growing into something extraordinary.

If you’re a young Ukrainian in Denmark – or you know someone who is – reach out, show up and get involved. This community is here for you.

And to everyone else: keep an eye on this extraordinary group of young people - they’re only just getting started.

Empowering Ukrainian Youth currently operates four hubs in Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, and Copenhagen. For more information on the project, including details about our hubs, hub coordinators, and upcoming events, visit our website.