Introduction to the GEA & the SKA 

On October 15, 2025, as Mr. Mogens led this year's Hans Christian Andersen Teacher's Award Nordic education study tour to visit the Askov Højskole in Denmark, an idea sparked within me: to establish the "Grundtvig Enlightenment Award."

A thousand years ago, Viking pirates roamed Europe, their warships churning the stormy waves of the Atlantic; where their blades flashed, Denmark was at the peak of its arrogance.

Over a hundred years ago, a series of defeats reduced Denmark to a poor and weak nation, with an atmosphere of failure pervading the entire country.Yet, it was precisely during those dark times that Denmark miraculously gave birth to the "Three Great Figures" who influenced the course of its own, Nordic, and even world civilization: Grundtvig, Kierkegaard, and Andersen. They led Danish society out of the mire and into modern civilization, inspiring the emergence of numerous heroes and virtuous citizens like Bjørn Holmberg Sindberg. 

Today's Denmark is not only prosperous and harmonious societally but also consistently ranks at the top globally in happiness indexes. This nation of just six million people has produced 14 Nobel laureates and nurtured countless world-renowned brands.

From a land of pirates to a land of gentlemen, Denmark has risen to become one of the world's most respected countries.Denmark's success points to a bright path forward for humanity!

The overall leap in the quality of Denmark's citizens, its exceptional happiness index, and social harmony are largely indebted to Grundtvig's ideas on folk education.We plan to select three individuals annually in China (and potentially expanding to other countries in the future) who have made outstanding contributions to disseminating and practicing Grundtvig's ideas on folk education, awarding them the "Grundtvig Enlightenment Award." Awardees will receive a bronze medal engraved with the two "Trees of Peace and Hope" from the Nordfyn Højskole(one being a cherry tree planted by Mr. Tadao Chiba, founder of the Nordfyn Højskole, and the other a ginkgo tree planted by the 2025 ATA study tour). 

We will invite them to follow in Grundtvig's footsteps and explore the secrets behind Denmark's success，to deeply understand Grundtvig's philosophy of folk education.

The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, "A person who can truly stand independent of this world, heeding only the guidance of their own conscience, is a hero!"Bjørn Holmberg Sindberg is precisely such a hero, a Danish hero closest to our own time. During the Nanjing Massacre in the last century, Sindberg fearlessly used his own strength to save and protect nearly twenty thousand Chinese refugees, becoming a benefactor to the Chinese people and a symbol of Sino-Danish people-to-people friendship.Our era needs heroes like Sindberg; social harmony and world peace need such a banner to unite forces.

Therefore, we are launching the "Sindberg Knight Award", each year we will select three individuals who, like Sindberg, dare to adventure in doing good, awarding them the "Sindberg Knight Award." Prizes include a bronze medal engraved with a knight's emblem and a fully-funded study trip to Denmark, allowing them to deeply experience the legacy of virtue in this righteous nation and promote its values.

Grundtvig's folk education awakens civic responsibility and earns respect; Andersen's fairy tales delight the soul and inspire one to become an imaginative spirit; Sindberg, whose name is second only to Andersen in recognition within China, saw his good deeds shine with the light of humanity, moving hearts. The Grundtvig Enlightenment Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Teacher's Award embody the power of adult and childhood education respectively; while the Sindberg Knight Award celebrates greatness rooted in action based on truth, goodness, and beauty.

Like the Big Dipper, these three outstanding figures and the awards named after them embody the foundational ideals that propelled Denmark toward modern civilization. 

May their wisdom illuminate more seekers, profoundly enhance children’s well-being, foster social harmony, advance global peace, and sow seeds of hope in this troubled world.

The American scholar Francis Fukuyama, in his book Political Order and Political Decay, posed a thought-provoking question: “How do we get to Denmark?” Here, “Denmark” does not refer specifically to the geographical country, but symbolizes a fairy-tale-like ideal state of society—one that excels in every aspect.These three awards can be seen as my own attempt to answer Fukuyama’s question.

We pay tribute to these three remarkable Danes!Let us strive to emulate Denmark—this exemplary nation on Earth!

Today is November 22nd, a day to express love through action.Five years ago today, the inaugural list of Hans Christian Andersen Teacher’s Award recipients was announced at the former residence of Mr. Ye Junjian, the Chinese translator of Andersen’s fairy tales. On this meaningful day dedicated to spreading love, I am honored to join Ms. Xiaoyu, an ATA awardee, at the “Xicheng Forum” in Beijing to announce the launch of the Grundtvig Enlightenment Award and the Sindberg Knight Award!The recipient lists for the 2026 GEA and the SKA will be announced on April 2nd of the following year, alongside the list of ATA winners.

Award Initiator / 2008 Beijing Olympic Torchbearer:  Dong Ruixian

Tips：

Dear Dong,

That is a terrific idea. I fully support it and it may even contribute to a bridge of knowledge and understanding between China and Denmark.Great idea.

Cheers Johannes Dragsbaek Schmidt

PhD and Adjunct Associate Professor

Aalborg University

Dear Dong!

What a mission you have started?I read with pleasure your description of Danish history and intellectuals and it is so  inspiring to read.I think you do much more to promote Danish qualities and gifts to the world than many Danish tourist- and cultural  institutions do.You are really a friend and promoter of Danish culture and society including HCA, Grundtvig and Kierkegaard（Sindberg）.I would be VERY HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU!I really hope that you will be able to raise money for it! Your ideas really deserve it.Later we can more in detail discuss the balance between ATA and the new comers.

Keep in contact，

Mogens Godballe

Højskolelærer

Nordfyns Højskole