The Danish People's Aid organization has entered into a collaboration with musician, songwriter and actress Annika Aakjær to become an ambassador for this year's Christmas Aid. Every year, Danish People's Aid distributes Christmas Aid to tens of thousands of poor families with children. Annika Aakjær will be an ambassador together with author and debater Knud Romer, who has been an ambassador for Danish People's Aid's Christmas Aid since 2023.
Last year, almost 20,000 needy families with children applied for financial help to get through Christmas from Danish People's Aid, one of the country's largest distributors of Christmas aid. Families can apply for financial assistance until November 23, and the organization expects another high number of applicants due to price increases in the years of high inflation, which has resulted in increasing inequality, among other things.
To raise awareness about this year's collection, Danish People's Aid has allied itself with musician Annika Aakjær, who, together with author Knud Romer, has agreed to be an ambassador for this year's Christmas Aid.
Annika Aakjær says:
”"I have always had an eye for inequality in Denmark, and therefore it feels completely natural to support the Danish People's Aid's Christmas aid as an ambassador. It is important to me to support initiatives that make a concrete difference for people who need a helping hand."”
Knud Romer adds:
“No child should be left out of the community. This applies all year round, but Christmas exposes inequality in the most brutal way. That is why I am once again supporting Danish People's Aid's outreach this year, which is an absolutely necessary effort to ensure more children have a dignified Christmas.”
At Danish People's Aid, Secretary General Mirka Mozer is deeply grateful for the support:
”"Having Annika Aakjær and Knud Romer on board means a lot to us. When two strong voices support Christmas Aid, they help to focus on the huge challenge that we have with poverty in Denmark. When prices rise, it hits those who already have the least, the hardest, and for thousands of parents, December is filled with stomach aches rather than joy. That's why Annika and Knud's voices are so important: they help us to focus on the difference Christmas Aid can make."”
Rising inequality and high inflation are putting pressure on the most vulnerable families with children
The need for Christmas aid reflects a reality where the economic gap is growing and where everyday life is getting tighter at the bottom of society. According to the Danish Labour Movement's Business Council, 48,600 children in Denmark are growing up in relative poverty.
At the same time, new figures from the think tank show that 5.3 percent of Danish children live with severe material and social deprivation, the highest proportion among the Nordic countries. The development is supported by figures from Statistics Denmark, which show that income inequality in Denmark is at its highest level since the 1980s, with a Gini coefficient of over 30.
Danish People's Aid expects continued massive pressure on Christmas Aid
Over the past five years, the number of applicants for Christmas Aid has increased by over 23 percent – from just under 15,000 families in 2020 to more than 18,400 families last year. In 2023, the number was as high as 21,500 applicants. The development is evidence of an everyday life that has become noticeably more difficult for the most vulnerable families with children over a long period of time, driven by high inflation and increasing inequality in Denmark.
Danish People's Aid therefore expects a very high number of applicants again this year. Mirka Mozer says:
”"Unfortunately, the numbers speak for themselves. Although inflation has subsided a bit for most people, prices have not fallen again. For those families who were already spending every penny, the hole in the budget has only deepened. We expect massive pressure on Christmas Aid once again, because everyday life is simply so tight that there is absolutely no surplus left when December arrives."” Danish People's Aid distributes Christmas aid to single parents or cohabitants on transfer income with children living at home under the age of 18. All applications are verified by the social authorities in the applicant's municipality of residence.
