Marginalized Greenlanders in Denmark: Project workers’ perspectives on challenges to and successes of the Strategy: Effective support to marginalized Greenlanders

While most Greenlanders in Denmark are doing well, a minority group (6-10%) live under marginalized and socially isolated circumstances most (about 1/3) in the larger cites of Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, Esbjerg and Copenhagen. Nation-wide initiatives (projects) to help improve the living conditions of this minority group were launched in 2013 and follow-up initiatives that engage marginalised Greenlanders directly (Transition and peer support; The Inclusion initiative) commenced in 2017, little is known about the outcome of the follow-up initiatives.
Through document review and qualitative interviews with project leaders and frontline workers we discuss the current situation for marginalized Greenlanders in Denmark and share a point in time status of the initiatives underway.
Similar to other persons living under marginalized circumstances in Denmark, marginalized Greenlanders are heterogeneous, have differentiated needs and respond to initiatives in diverse ways. In order to be able to support individual Greenlanders in the best way possible, trusting relationships must be developed. The small changes for the better in the social circumstances and general living conditions of an individual are time intensive but also perceived to be successes.
In order to support marginalized Greenlanders as best as possible and with the goal of positive integration in the local milieu, longer term initiatives and individualized approaches with continued contact with a frontline worker who preferably share the same linguistic and cultural background as the clients are necessary.