Folkehojskolernes forening i Danmark (FFD)

Association of Folk High Schools in Denmark

Mr. Thor West Nielsen
Nytorv 7
Copenhagen K DK-1450
Denmark
Tel: +45-333 640 40
Fax: +45-331 398 70
e-mail: twn@ffd.dk
www: http://www.ffd.dk/the-danish-folk-high-school

History

The first Folk High School was founded in Rødding, Denmark, in 1844, on initiative of Christian Flor and inspired by the educational thinking of Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig. But Ryslinge Højskole, founded by Christen Kold in 1851, became the model for future Folk High Schools. The movement was sparked by a need to educate the uneducated and often poor peasantry, who neither had the time nor money to enroll at a university. It has since grown by the desire to offer an alternative to the formal educational system in Denmark.
• The Association of Folk High Schools was established in the 1890´s.
• The folk high school has remained independent but is state-funded

Main act

FFD is the national organizing body for the 76 Danish Folk High Schools, each an independent, non-governmental institution with a number of adult students ranging from 50 to 200 on the so-called long courses. All schools supplement the long term courses with short term ones, 1 or 2 weeks in length. In the capacity of a membership organization for the movement, FFD develops and maintains political and professional relations with the government and partners, both at the national and international levels. FFD organizes, supports and undertakes development projects for and with Folk High Schools. Key areas are democracy, citizenship, culture and sustainability. Other activities include:
• Policy making and political lobbying.
• Advice on legal and organizational matters.
• Information about and marketing of the folk high schools

Cp projects

Thor West Nielsen twn@ffd.dk
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Intenational projects

• Mitraniketan in India until 2007.
• Community School until 2012 and Gonobidyalaya until 2008 in Bangladesh.
• Jiwan in Nepal until 2011.
• Grundtvig Institute in Nigeria.

Publications

The association publishes The Folk High School Song Book, which came in its 18th edition in 2006. The first edition was printed in 1894. It is the most widely distributed song book in Denmark.

Mission statement

The association is a leading participant in several both national and transnational projects on citizenship.

The overall aim is to develop the concept of citizenship in order to reestablish active and responsible citizenship as an essential element in educational and general politics, be it on national, European or global level.

Several FFD member schools co-operate with NGOs in 3rd world countries, exchanging students, teachers, and voluntary workers