The Boys' Academy was first held in 2012 and helps around 120 boys from across the country every year. What they have in common is that they have significant academic deficits in Danish and mathematics, and many have negative school experiences and low self-esteem.

"The support from Margit and Sol og Strand Foundation helps ensure that more boys can get a fresh start and experience that they can actually succeed in school," says Lars Andersen, program manager at the Løkke Foundation.

The Boys' Academy consists of a two-week intensive learning camp during the summer holidays, followed by a mentoring program where the boys receive support to maintain their motivation, new habits, and belief that they can succeed—both in school and in life.

"These are boys who got off the school train as early as fourth grade and never really got back on when the train came rushing by. Many of them have effectively given up on school," says Lars Andersen.

"They have been fed a narrative that they are not capable of much, and this becomes self-reinforcing. That is why we are trying to change their self-perception and create a new narrative that they are good enough just as they are," says Lars Andersen, who explains that every year, the Boys' Academy receives more applications than it is possible to accommodate.

– More than one in ten students currently leave primary school without passing their final exams, and for this group, there are not many doors open to them. They cannot enter secondary education – not even high school, says Lars Andersen.

At DrengeAkademiet, the goal is to improve the boys' academic skills so that they can pass their primary school leaving exams. Teaching is based on each boy's individual academic level, so that everyone has the opportunity to experience academic progress.

"We have a large number of teachers and are able to offer almost one-to-one teaching. During the first week, we find that virtually everyone makes progress," says Lars Andersen.

In addition to academic improvement, the Boys' Academy works specifically with the boys' well-being, resilience, and belief in their own abilities. They experience that they can actually change—both academically and personally.

"Here, the boys become part of an equal community, and they discover that they are not alone in having a hard time. There is no shame in raising your hand and saying that there is something you cannot do—because neither can the other 119," says Lars Andersen.

After their stay at the Boys' Academy, the boys receive support in their further development until they finish elementary school. They are assigned to one of a total of seven local mentor centers and have access to support from a boys' coordinator, who can help the boys find part-time jobs or provide guidance on educational choices, etc.

According to Lars Andersen, 86 percent of the boys who have participated in the Boys' Academy subsequently pass their primary school leaving exams.

It is not only significant for the individual student; it also makes a difference socioeconomically. Studies show that each student who fails the public school leaving exam costs society $18,000 the following year. Our experience is that a course at the Boys' Academy can be life-changing for the boys. They come home with a boost and a belief in their own abilities that will have an impact on their future, he says.

Facts about the Boys' Academy

• Started in 2012 by the Løkke Foundation
• Target group: boys in 7th and 8th grade with academic and personal challenges
• Consists of a two-week learning camp during the summer holidays
• Followed by, among other things, group mentoring and parental cooperation
• Helps approximately 120 boys from across the country every year