Participants in our Danish Exchange Program arrived in Ribe—our founder Jacob A. Riis’ hometown—on Sunday, June 29, to begin a weeklong exploration of Denmark. Five of our youth, accompanied by members of our Youth Services staff, traveled overseas for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
They were warmly welcomed by the same Danish families who visited New York last year as part of the first leg of this two-year exchange. Throughout the week, our participants enjoyed sightseeing around Ribe, visiting Katedralskolen, biking, and cooking with their hosts. Highlights included exploring the Viking Center, watching the tides at the Wadden Sea, and strawberry picking during a farm outing. The group also went canoeing on the Kongeåen River and spent quality time with their host families over BBQs and evening board games—all while embracing the Danish concept of hygge, a word that captures the joy and comfort found in life’s simple pleasures.
They concluded their visit in Copenhagen, where they explored the capital city and visited fellow settlement house AskovFonden.
We are deeply grateful to our Danish partners—including the staff at the Ribe Cathedral School—not only for opening their homes, but for continuing to build lasting bonds with our youth. We look forward to starting a new cycle of exchange next summer, when we welcome the next group from Denmark to New York!
