Youth Island: Democracy in Action

This weekend students visited Ungdomsøen (The Youth Island) to learn more about youth activism in Denmark and how the island facilitates camping and activities specifically for young people. Youth Island is located in the Øresund, between Copenhagen and Sweden. Youth Island is the largest man-made island not connected to the mainland. 

We met with a "Give A Year" volunteer for a tour to learn about the history of the island, rooted in coastal fortification in the late 1800s to its recent history being purchased by two Danish scout organizations and developed into the area it is today, opened to the public in 2019. There is free camping, a swimming area, and sauna in the outdoor space, and the interior has several game rooms when visitors want to stay indoors. The purpose of the island is to be a space for the youth of Denmark to come together, and hosts arts and music festivals, activist gatherings, and a place for youth to develop into leaders. From our guide, we learned the island has 5 dogmas that are at the core of its practices, which focus on responsibility, doing things, challenge youth, be inclusive, and connect people.

After our tour, our Global Navigators participated in a democracy game where they had to discuss the values of a new society they were tasked with creating. Students practiced negotiating and honed their debating skills in the amphitheatre where they fought for a spot on the new island. 

After leaving Youth Island, students ate dinner at Broens Gadekøkken, a food hall located across from Nyhavn harbor. After choosing a food stall to get dinner from, some students watched the Switzerland V. Italy Euros match playing on a TV!