A message from Dr.Johannes Dragsbaek Schmidt

I have been part of H. C. Andersen’s universe my whole life for more than sixty years. My father always used to give us children a fairy tale as bedtime story before sleep. I did the same to my three children and now it is my three grandchildren turn to be introduced to the exiting world of fairy tales. On Christmas eve we are all together-also my present wife and ex-wife - and the tradition is that the smallest children will choose a fairy tale and we all enjoy together.

Chilean author Isabel Allende has said: “H.C. Andersen could be from any country. There is nothing particularly Danish about him”. For while H.C. Andersen is deeply embedded in Danish culture, he also receives great recognition in many other parts of the world. In many countries, his fairy tales are taught right up to university level, just as they are part of the global everyday life when they are the subject of reading aloud in the languages of the world.

It is true, just like Mr. Dong Ruixiang, my former university student, he is a fan of H.C. Andersen. His life changed when he discovered H.C. Andersen’s favorite quote:  To travel is to live.  Mr. Dong came to Denmark in 1998 and got many opportunities, then he travelled and worked around the world and became a world citizen.

One day, a good idea came to Mr. Dong’s mind. In 2016, he discussed with some friends and me to establish the H.C. Andersen International Kindergarten College (AIKC). H.C. Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark gave permission to use Andersen’s name and portrait and the Laoniu Foundation supported the idea. Several hundred Chinese kindergarten leaders and scholars have already been in Denmark to study at AIKC which almost look like a real fairy tale.

Mr. Dong also set up H.C. Andersen International Kids Teachers’ Award. I am a committee member and I imagine the award will build a fairy tale bridge between China and Denmark，maybe world wide later.Many people will pass the bridge to see a new world, to meet new people, to have a new life.

Fairy tales can happen everywhere, and all the time, not only in HCA’s time.

Maybe my wife’s son Toke will marry a Chinese girl, who has studied in AIKC; maybe my grandson someday will study or work in China, who knows.

To build a bridge, especially to build a fairy tale bridge means a lot.

Please use your imagination to draw wonderful pictures.

What is so appealing of H.C.Andersen’s fairy tales to all age groups? The ugly duckling who turns into a beautiful swan maybe a metaphor of his own life, but he was also a very vulnerable person. This is crucial in our own self-perception and when we look into our mirror, we recognize our own dreams and vulnerabilities.

But everything could be changed, the famous Danish shoe maker’s son already had a wonderful life journey, It reminds us it is so important to dream, be brave and perhaps, you will have your own fairy tale in future.

Let your life be a fairy tale,too.