Brief History

The Danish Youth Council was founded as a non-governmental organisation in 1940 by democratic youth associations. They wanted to avoid a situation where young Danes might be attracted to the totalitarian ideas that had become a very present part of Danish society...
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Brief History

The Danish Youth Council was founded as a non-governmental organisation in 1940 by democratic youth associations. They wanted to avoid a situation where young Danes might be attracted to the totalitarian ideas that had become a very present part of Danish society under foreign occupation. After the war, DUF was invited by leading politicians to join a national youth commission, a venture that eventually led to the introduction of a youth policy in Denmark. Since then, DUF has maintained this role as a common talking partner with the public authorities. The focus in our activities remains democratic values and the democratisation of youth - from the small local associations in Denmark to the international scene in the Baltic Sea Region, the European Union and the United Nations.

Objectives

The purpose of DUF is to be a common representative of organised nation-wide democratic children and youth work in Denmark, and as part of this, to represent the participating organisations in negotiations with the public authorities, institutions and other organisations in Denmark and abroad.

Through its activities, DUF tries to help solve the problems of youth and promote solidarity and mutual understanding among young people and their organisations.

Working Languages

Danish and English

Structure

The highest decision-making body is the General Assembly. It is composed of representatives of the member organisations and meets annually on the first weekend in December.

The Board, composed of a chairman, vice-chairman and 15 Board members, is the primary decision-making body between general assemblies.

The Board elects an Executive Committee of five Board members to be responsible for the daily workings of the organisation.

In addition, DUF has a number of standing committees that function as advisory boards for the activities of the organisation.

Main Activities

- Provide training for youth leaders in member organisations
- Support and lobby for the development of municipal youth policy
- Publish education and information materials
- Lobby on issues related to young people and youth organisations in general
- Administer funds for youth work on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
- Promote and administer funds for special youth initiatives in Denmark.
- North-South Youth Leader Exchange Programme.
- North-South Project Pool with a focus on organisational development.
- Development Education projects.
- Activities within the framework of partnership agreements with the national youth councils in Nicaragua

Publications

* Magasinet Paraplyen ("The umbrella magazine") which is distributed to all the local branches of our member organisations. The magazine targets local youth leaders and is published four times a year.
* Nyhedsbrevet DUF-NYT ("The newsletter DUF-News") is published about ten times a year and serves as DUFs political newsletter. The news bulletin is distributed to member organisations, politicians and other decision-makers and to the press.
* DUF-Information comes out every fourth night and provides information on DUF's work, new materials on offer, invitations to seminars and conferences, vacancies, etc.
* Direct-Mail is an electronic newsletter published when appropriate to announce events, invitations, etc.

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