Trust, respect, and an open mind.These three keywords have taken on new meaning to our participants in previous programs. Their traditions, pedagogy, and upbringing are different from the Danish view on how children become prepared for life's challengens.
We develop tailored programs that invite reflection and critical thinking, a love of storytelling, and curiosity. The common thread is the philosophy of Grundtvig, H.C. Andersen, the concept of formation (dannelse), and ideas from the era of popular enlightenment – a ‘model’ that is embedded in the Danish DNA, which we combine with contemporary educational theories.
We work from the belief that respect, independence, and the ability to empathize with others help prepare children to become resilient and self-reliant adults.
We organize:
- - Study trips focused on formation, play, and learning
- - Online courses based on pedagogical topics with a practical focus
- - Online forums led by the China Denmark Education Forum
- - Inspire-Share-Learn projects – bridging schools across cultures
- - Project: Play Communities inspired by Hans Christian Andersen
- - Danes to go – volunteers spending 2–3 weeks in Chinese kindergartens
Practice is paramount
On all courses and visits, we highly emphasize the practical elements. Participants play, experiment, and are challenged in workshops, outside in nature, and on playgrounds. During many activities participants wear costumes so as to get a personal experience on what it means to step into unknown roles and to encounter new aspects of themselves.
Stay and live together
The training also contains introductions and creative workshops in kindergartens, at knowledge centers and attractions. The participants stay and live at the folk high school in a daily-life routine, which helps them to creates close bonds with one another, as well as with the other students at the school and the local population.
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! HCA FESTIVALS: Dream Play with The Sandman HCA Festivals: DREAMDANCE – A First-Time Performance for People with Developmental Disabilities 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