“DANES DO A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK”
Amit Singh Chauhan came to Copenhagen to work as an IT consultant in September 2010. He
enjoys the work-life balance here which enables and encourages him to use the city and spend
time with his family.
Amit was working in India when he signed up for a project that would send him off to work in
an insurance company in Copenhagen, Denmark. At that time, he and his wife, Sucharitha, did
not know much about Denmark besides the fact that it is a small country known for its dairy
products.
However, when they arrived they discovered that their new destination had a lot more to offer
and the couple soon expanded their network and began using the city actively in their spare
time.
Time for yourself and for your family
“Here work-life balance plays an important role in a person’s life,” Amit says. He has a flexible
37 hour work week in Denmark: “It’s really good because it means that you have time for yourself and for your family.”
The work-life balance has made it possible for him to have time to volunteer, go cycling and
running for personal fitness, be with his wife and his newborn son and go to Danish language
classes.
When he worked three years in London, he was used to meeting his friends and co-workers at
the local pub: “In Copenhagen you are invited to a person’s home instead.” Amit’s network has
slowly expanded this way. At first he only met with his closest colleagues but now he has made
new friends, especially through volunteering projects. ”My experience in Denmark has taught
me that networking is really important, and volunteering is a good way of making friends if
you are new to the country. Danes do a lot of volunteer work”, he adds.
Volunteering
It was actually his wife who encouraged him to become a volunteer: “She was a volunteer
herself and she really was having fun,” Amit says. “Being a volunteer enables you to participate
in a lot of festivals and different activities. It is very nice to be a part of it, learning new things,
different cultures, different kinds of food and meeting new people.”
Now he is part of the largest volunteer corps in Copenhagen, Cph Volunteers. “I like sports, so I
usually try to participate in sports events,” he says and recalls being a volunteer at a marathon,
a cycling event and a relay. The events often take place in the evening or during the weekends
outside work hours. ”So it is possible to both work and volunteer. I have found quite a few
friends through Cph Volunteers actually!”
A new life in Copenhagen
In the summer of 2014 Amit and his wife decided to get a more permanent base in the city as
they are planning to stay at least 5 to 6 more years. So, Amit left his job at the Indian company
and got a local job instead. Recently, his wife gave birth to a baby boy and Amit looks forward
to spending some quality time with his family visiting the many playgrounds in the city, going
to swimming classes and teaching his son how to play football and ride a bike in the streets of
Copenhagen.
About Amit:
Amit Singh Chauhan, 31 years old, India.
Bachelor of Technology and Master of Business Administration.
Came to Copenhagen in September 2010.
Works as Senior Software Developer.
5 FACTS ON LEISURE TIME IN COPENHAGEN
1. Copenhageners pedal 1.2 million km each day along 340 km of bike lanes. People of all ages bike - it is the
quickest and most convenient means of transport in Copenhagen. 41% of the citizens in Copenhagen commute
by bike every day, and there are more bikes than inhabitants.
2. 44% of the people living in Copenhagen have done volunteer work in the past year.
3. The water in the Copenhagen harbour is so clean that you can swim in it, and Copenhagen has 3 harbour baths
where you can take a free swim in the middle of the city. Copenhageners generally love water activities such as
kayaking, rowing and sailing, and all year people use the harbour baths, the city’s 4 beaches and the many canals.
4. Enjoy sports? In Copenhagen you can participate in all sorts of activities - from football, badminton and tennis
to climbing walls, skating and fencing. Numerous sports facilities as well as 20 recreational areas are at your
disposal.
5. Copenhagen has a rich cultural scene boasting everything from international art exhibitions, classical concerts
and edgy theatre shows to music, gastronomy, gay pride, ballet and opera festivals. Furthermore, Copenhagen
has 25 culture houses where you can participate in leisure time activities such as yoga, theatre plays and flea
markets, and socialize with the local community.