Launch: Democratic Mobilization of the Next Generation
Constructive Institute receives 6.8 million DKK for project on Youth, Media and Democracy
With the project “Democratic Mobilization of the Next Generation,” Constructive Institute aims to enhance the democratic confidence of 15,000 young people and inspire them and their educators to take part in our shared public discourse. The project is supported by Nordea Foundation with 6.35 million DKK and by Spar Nord Foundation with 450,000 DKK.
Mediebootcamp 
Grundtvigs Højskole 
FGU Gellerup 
FGU Gellerup 
Mediebootcamp 
Mediebootcamp
Over the next three years, Constructive Institute will strengthen the democratic confidence of 15,000 young people through education and workshops in journalism, media and democracy and through a new Constructive Youth Reporter Programme.
- What is journalism?
- Which media do students in Denmark’s youth education programs use?
- What role do the media play in a democracy?
- What is the difference between getting information about the world from social media versus journalistic news media?
- And how can young people learn to use journalistic tools to highlight important issues?
These are the central questions that will guide us as we roll out the “Democratic Mobilization of the Next Generation” project. Over the next three years, through teaching journalism, media, and democracy, the initiative will strengthen democratic confidence and media literacy among 15,000 young people in secondary and vocational schools, preparatory education programs (FGU), independent schools, day schools, folk high schools, boarding schools, and more across the country.
“We live in an exciting but challenging time, where much of what we have taken for granted since World War II no longer applies. In this development, the media—both social and traditional—have played a decisive role. Right now, we see a battle between truth and lies, facts and misinformation, demagoguery and democracy. That is why we hope and believe that by equipping the next generation with media skills and the desire to participate in public debate, we can better prepare them to become media-critical, active citizens in the democracy of the future”
Ulrik Haagerup, Founder and CEO of Constructive Institute
Constructive Institute at Aarhus Katedralskole, Jesper Himmelstrup, november 2023 
Constructive Institute at Aarhus Katedralskole, Jesper Himmelstrup, november 2023 
Constructive Institute at Folkemødet på Bornholm, Sonja Morell Lundorff, juni 2024.
Numerous studies show that many young people struggle with low democratic confidence, avoid debates on social media for fear of negative reactions, opt out of public discourse, and deliberately avoid news media. Ulrik Haagerup is therefore pleased that the financial support from Nordea Foundation and Spar Nord Foundation will enable the institute to democratically mobilize a quarter of a youth cohort over the next three years.
Encouraging Greater Participation Among Young People
Nordea Foundation has emphasized that the 6.35 million DKK grant was awarded because the project aims to encourage young people to take an active role in society.
“It will be interesting to see how an introduction to journalism tools, new insights into media consumption, and young people’s perspectives on media can positively contribute to keeping the younger generations engaged in our society. A broad group of 15,000 students will now receive concrete tools and knowledge that, based on their ideas and needs, will enable them to contribute to our democracy. This is a significant and important mobilization effort that Constructive Institute is launching together with young people across the country, and we at Nordea Foundation are proud to support it”
Christine Paludan-Müller, Grants Manager at Nordea Foundation
The project builds on the institute’s one-year program, “Generation News Avoidance,” which identified a clear need to focus on young people, media, democracy, and public debate—something that both students and educators have expressed great enthusiasm for, according to Jesper Himmelstrup, journalist and project manager at Constructive Institute.
“The interest and feedback from various educational institutions across the country have been overwhelming. This includes high school seniors studying social sciences at an advanced level, second-year vocational students, and first-year students in preparatory education programs. From well-resourced folk high schools to independent and boarding schools with students facing special challenges. Despite the differences, our key ambition is that no young person—regardless of their educational background—feels excluded. Having a voice is a fundamental human right for all young people”
Jesper Himmelstrup, Project Lead at Constructive Institute
Spar Nord Foundation has also highlighted that the project not only makes a meaningful difference for young people but also broadly contributes to society in an area that is more relevant than ever.
“Democracy, journalism, and media inevitably play a significant role in public debate. That is why we find it important to support initiatives where the younger generation collaboratively develops and experiences concrete efforts that both strengthen their engagement in democracy and enhance their ability to actively participate in societal discussions. Constructive Institute is a great example of exactly that”
Bo Uggerhøj, Director of Spar Nord Foundation
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