“Participation means power” – Rushy Rashid Højbjerg on the importance of including young immigrants

When I was in fifth grade, my teacher asked me to be the students’ representative on the school council. That was the moment when I realised that if you want to get things done, you need to be at the table where decisions are made.

Just two years earlier, at the age of 9, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg had come to Denmark with her parents from her home country, Pakistan, and started school without knowing any Danish at all. She learned the language quickly, and the role in the school council taught her the importance of democracy.

As an immigrant living in Denmark for the last 45 years, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg has crushed many glass ceilings. As a journalist, she became the first Danish TV presenter with an immigrant background. As an author, she was the first woman to share her story of growing up in the ”no man’s land” between her parents’ culture and the norms of Danish society.

Today, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg works as a recruiter – a “head-and-heart hunter,” as she calls it – matching talent and values with the right organisations.

Communication, inclusivity and the concept of agency through democratic means have always been central to her work. As the newly appointed leader of the Nordic Migrant Expert Forum for 2025–2027, Rashid Højbjerg aims to continue working towards these values, with a special focus on youth.

– Through my role in the forum, I hope to gain extensive knowledge about how things are in the other Nordic countries, what we can learn from them here in Denmark, and how our Danish experiences can contribute on a Nordic scale.

Participation as a way out of no-man’s land

All members of the Nordic Migrant Expert Forum have specific recommendations they emphasise for the Nordic Council of Ministers. “Participation means power” is the headline of Rushy Rashid Højbjergs’ set of recommendations – designed to empower youth councils and provide democratic tools for young immigrant people.

Many young immigrant people struggle with questions regarding belonging and identity. Where do I belong? What are my parents’ expectations, and what are the expectations of the society I am now part of? It is like living in no-man’s land.

Throughout her life in Denmark, Rashid Højbjerg has witnessed numerous positive changes regarding immigration-related issues. Yet, she says, there has always been a push and pull between inclusion and exclusion in the relationship between immigrants and Danish society as a whole.

– I belong to the generation that was labelled ”2nd generation immigrants”. We learned the language, and we educated ourselves. We participated in Danish society on all levels. Therefore, I hoped and expected that things would be different for our kids. However, unfortunately, things remain the same for many young people today. They are growing up in the Nordics, torn apart and confronting the struggle between cultures, values, and expectations.

“Medborgere” and “modborgere”

Rushy Rashid Højbjerg describes this tension as a wavering between medborgerskab – citizenship – and modborgerskab – counter-citizenship. By giving young immigrants a sense of participation, she argues, they can be turned into medborgere.

– The feeling of inclusion is central. Young people cannot be expected to feel part of a society they are excluded from shaping.

Those left outside may feel and be seen as modborgere. For instance, Rashid Højbjerg has heard some young people, in talking about political elections, say that voting is “haram” – meaning religiously forbidden in Islam. Misunderstandings like this can occur when the fundamentals of democracy are not understood, Rashid Højbjerg says.

– If you do not understand how democracy functions, it becomes easier for others to mislead you. That is why we need to enhance the understanding of citizenship and challenge the idea of counter-citizenship.

The jigsaw puzzle of understanding democracy

Rushy Rashid Højbjerg compares democratic education to a jigsaw puzzle. The edge pieces represent the individual’s sense of belonging and identity – the outer structure that gives stability in life. The inner pieces relate to a technical understanding of democracy, its institutions, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

One of the essential pieces, she explains, is the “triangle of power” in Denmark: the lawmakers, the government, and the courts. Knowing how these powers interact is crucial for understanding what it means to live in a democracy.

In some societies, authorities are lifted fingers. If you argue, you risk prison. But here, you live in a state of law. I still don’t think all young immigrants today understand that.

Rushy Rashid Højbjerg states that building the puzzle of democratic understanding must begin early, in schools, where children develop their first grasp of the society around them. Without that foundation, the picture remains incomplete.

– In the picture of the puzzle, I see the face of the young generation. And the more pieces we give them, the clearer that face becomes.

From body language to political rhetoric – more education is necessary

In her recommendations, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg provides clear advice for Nordic authorities on how to involve young people with migrant backgrounds. These young individuals should not only be consulted but also granted real influence. For example, it is crucial to ensure that representation across ethnicities, genders, and residency statuses is reflected within youth councils.

More education about cultural norms is also necessary, not only in schools but also among policymakers and professionals who deal with integration on a daily basis. One example is how body language can have different meanings across cultures.

– When my Pakistani father scolded me as a child, I would never look him directly in the eye. Looking away was a sign of respecting his authority. However, in Denmark, not making eye contact is considered a sign of disrespect. When I reprimand my children, they look me in the eye.

Such gestures, she explains, can easily be misinterpreted if you do not understand the cultural codes behind them. For teachers, social workers and policymakers, intercultural competence is therefore essential.

The language used in immigration discussions is also crucial. Rushy Rashid Højbjerg emphasises that words create actions, and political rhetoric can have a significant impact, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

– If you label some people as a burden, you do not include; you exclude. And when people are excluded, they will not feel they have a say in society. So why should they bother to vote? Why should they use their voice in a system that tells them they do not belong?

When arguments are resolved, real change can begin

Due to her long career as a journalist, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg is a household name in Denmark today. When starting out as a young reporter, she initially refused to cover immigration issues.

– As a reporter with an immigrant background, I did not want to confine myself to that specific field of journalism. I wanted to work as a mainstream journalist with mainstream topics.

Only later did Rushy Rashid Højbjerg begin hosting a weekly radio programme that focused on immigration issues. The show took a constructive perspective and became very popular in Denmark.

– I had two people with differing views in the studio, and I said, ‘Okay, we know where both of you stand – but how can you work together to resolve the issue?’

A small idea for a cookbook turned into something big

Today, as a recruiter, Rushy Rashid Højbjerg continues to advise, speak, and engage in projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Yet some of the work she is most proud of began not in her professional career, but in her own family.

– Ten years ago, my father – a heart patient – came home from the doctor with dietary advice full of pork-based recipes. It was clear that the health system had overlooked the cultural realities of immigrant families.

This prompted Rashid Højbjerg to initiate a cookbook project in collaboration with NGOs, dieticians, and immigrant women across Denmark.

Statistics indicate that immigrant groups in general score highly on lifestyle-related health concerns. In the project, traditional dishes from 10 different countries were modified to be healthier, trainers were educated to share the recipes through small community workshops, and the efforts spread extensively.

An evaluation of the project by the University of Copenhagen described the initiative as one of the most impactful they had encountered, with thousands of families altering their eating habits as a result.

Initiating this project is something that I am really proud of. It began with a tiny idea, but it spread to thousands.

Read the recommendations from The Nordic Migrant Expert Forum.

Text: Sebastian Dahlström
Photo: Martin Thaulow