Courage to act
An idea only makes a difference when someone acts on it. We create room for young people to try, take responsibility and get started.
About Us
By YouthFor Youth
Sustainary began in Copenhagen in 2018. Since then, young people have helped set the direction of the organisation. That remains the starting point for everything we do today.
2018Founded in Copenhagen
TodayStill by young people, for young people
Who We Are
We believe democracy is not something we inherit and keep on a shelf. It is something we practice, question, and pass on.
Sustainary is a Copenhagen-based non-profit organisation where Danish and international young people come together under the same roof and work in both Danish and English. We believe different perspectives are essential if we want to create meaningful change.
At Sustainary we work to foster democratic self-confidence in youth, so they can take an active role in shaping the green transition, driving social innovation and participating confidently in public debate as changemakers, not bystanders.
For us, that means equipping young people with the knowledge, tools, and connections to turn their values into lasting impact. We do that through workshops, experimentariums, labs, case competitions, hackathons, and spaces for reflection. Because we know that real confidence is built through doing, together, and its ripple effects extend well beyond our programmes.
Our purpose
At Sustainary, we believe that a healthy society depends on young people seeing themselves as active participants in its democratic processes, not as spectators. Denmark has long been defined by a strong culture of civil engagement and volunteering. That culture is under pressure. Young people today are more stretched of time and increasingly disconnected from the structures that once made Danish society so resilient. As an organisation, our purpose is to reverse that tide.
Our Mission
Platforms and capacity for active youth
Our mission is to increase democratic self-confidence in young people so they can see themselves as changemakers. We do that by creating spaces where they can engage in climate action and advocacy, drive social innovation by challenging structures that no longer serve society, and participate in public debate without fear of reproach, knowing they have a place in it.
Our Vision
Informed youth driving change
We envision a future where youth has a seat at the tables where decisions are made, advocating for climate action and challenging social and economic structures that no longer serve society without fear of reproach. A future in which joining the public debate is not a privilege, but a democratic right that young people engage with self-confidence and drive.
Our Values
What we believe in
Innovation
We stay curious about what is not working yet and dare to try another way. Good ideas become better when they are tested in practice.
Democratic participation
Democracy is something we do. Young people should not only be heard, but have a real say in the decisions that shape their lives.
Community
You do not have to be alike to belong. We bring young people together across languages, cultures and experiences.
Collaboration
We go further when we work together. That is why we share ideas, responsibility and what we learn along the way.
Our focus areas
Democratic self-confidence
Democratic self-confidence is the belief that one has something valuable to contribute to society. At Sustainary, we develop projects that help young people find that self-assurance and grow from spectators to changemakers.
Social Innovation
Most challenges young people face are not individual problems but shared ones. At Sustainary, we bring young people together to think collectively, collaborate across differences, and develop solutions that are genuinely theirs.
Actionable Sustainability
Actionable sustainability is about making the green transition accessible and realistic for young people. At Sustainary, we focus on practical engagement so young people can stay connected to the issues that affect their future.
