Once upon a time....
On a chilly January day in 2017, there was a knock on the door at Nordfyns Højskole. Chinese lecturer Dong Ruixiang had traveled thousands of kilometers to fulfill a dream: he wants to make the world a better place for Chinese children now and in the future. The then principal, Mogens Godballe, welcomed Dong Ruixiang inside and listened to his guest.
Dong Ruixiang had a plan. In short, it was to establish 1,000 kindergartens in China based on H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales and Danish pedagogy. The first step was to train Chinese educators.
AIKC-courses
(H.C. Andersen International Kindergarten College] The result of the meeting may briefly be described as follows: From 2017 to 2019, a large number of Chinese educators and kindergarten leaders participated in 2–3 week continuing education programs. They heard, saw, and experienced firsthand what happens when play is at the center and takes place on the children’s terms. In the early years, the project was supported by the Chinese Laoniu Foundation.
The Learn for Life umbrella
In the course of 2019, the need arose also for courses for parents and grandparents as well as study tours on culture. Based on this, the association LEARN FOR LIFE was established which develops learning and cultural activities.
Sixth Edition of the China–Denmark Education Forum – Once Again in China Reunion Joy and China Experiences When Pedagogy Crosses Borders: Mutual Value in Cultural and Knowledge Exchange Between Danish and Chinese Educators Information Meeting 2026: Danish Pedagogues Three Weeks in a Chinese Kindergarten Nordic and Baltic Kindergarten Leaders Strengthen Storytelling in Nature H.C. Andersen Festivals – Something for Everyone! Enchanting Days for Kindergarten Children at H.C. Andersen Festivals Learn For Life invites children and adults into the world of dreams at the H.C. Andersen Festivals 2025 H.C. Andersen Festival 2025: Long Live Hans Christian Andersen! “The Princess and the Pea” – as Story Based Movement Play in China HCA FESTIVALS: Dream Play with The Sandman HCA Festivals: DREAMDANCE – A First-Time Performance for People with Developmental Disabilities Stina is ready for another journey… Community! You Are Unique! Life Is a Journey... Special Screening of the film “Yueyue’s Denmark” at the SPROGENSE Festival Three Days of workshops in Chengdu Three Weeks in Chinese Kindergartens Valuable dialoge at the China-Denmark Education Forum in China First Time in China for the Denmark-China Education Forum Thank You for Playing Along Intense Learning Days at Nordfyns Folk High School HCA Festivals: Small Street Performances Across Cultures Danish-Inspired Book by Kindergarten Director Liu Fangfang Invitation to Enchanted Play Communities at the H.C. Andersen Festivals Major Education Conference with Familiar CDEF Participants Korean Workshops Lead to Return Visit at Nordfyns Folk High School A day with Fairy Tale Play Communities Global coffee giant celebrates Christmas with Hans Christian Andersen in China Last online seminar before the Christmas holidays 2023 Reform-friendly thoughts at the fore during the annual education meeting in China Join the Party at Elverhøj Chinese Kindergarten Teachers Explore the World of Hans Christian Andersen Clumsy Hans – A Chinese Interpretation New play-textbook with inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales Watch and learn what Danes and Chinese think about ChatGPT Play Workshops for Educators – With and Without Children Revised Edition of Li Zhenxi’s Book: Education Has 100 Languages Three Weeks of an Unforgettable Study Tour for 33 Students and Their Teachers The Danish Chinese Education Forum is being held in Denmark for the first time Check out our website: PlaywithHCA.org William Yip is back with his theater children Inspire-Share-Learn (ISL) – a cultural exchange project for Danish and Chinese pupils. HCA play workshops for Chinese educators Record-number of viewers for the Danish-Chinese well-being forum Third edition of the CHINA DENMARK EDUCATION FORUM Watch the dialogue between Viktor Axelsen and Li Zhenxi Being a child in China: Growing up, socializing, learning and formation Play with Hans Christian Andersen - new book in preparation Youth culture meeting between Korup School and QingYing School in China Learn for Life – Now Featured in Kinabladet Children and Educators Bring a World of Wonder New Chinese children's book with Danish and Chinese children's drawings Christmas movie and greetings from China Good and informal atmosphere at the LIFE Education Innovation Forum Danish free school tradition inspires reform-friendly Chinese 1,319,216 Chinese viewers Sino-Danish forum focuses of the well-being of children and students Set the compass of your heart Danish children's drawings for a Chinese book Thanks a lot to H.C. Andersen Foundation Educational Institute celebrates Children's Day When inspiration leads to action Smart children have mud on their face Nature Education is hot in China More than one million Chinese followed the forum Program for the online-seminar on 22nd September Rethink Education in the Post-Epidemic Era Status of the Chinese children's film: Yué Yué comes to Denmark If the Chinese cannot come to us, we must come to them The fairytale ‘Bottle neck’ opens up a stream of Chinese creativity. The tree best ideas are awarded a trip to Denmark The Books by Li Zhenxi on Danish Pedagogy and Schooling are Ready to be Distributed The children attend a Danish kindergarten while mom and dad are on course This is what we can bring to the Chinese kindergartens