More young people are on the brink of adulthood without stable relationships and networks. For them, a support person and a community can be crucial for moving forward – towards education, jobs, and a renewed belief in themselves.

OVERGANG, which is a non-profit association, helps young people transition from education to working life. Through tailored mentoring programs, the association assists young people aged 18-30 who are alone without strong adults around them.

– While the young person is in education, the educational institution can often provide support. But when they stand on their own, they are left to fend for themselves – and that’s where we see many struggling and not moving forward. A mentoring program can make a world of difference for young people who are alone without networks or safe relationships. The donation from Fonden Sol og Strand enables us to help more young people move forward – and gives them the experience that they don’t have to stand alone, says board member at OVERGANG, Helene Djursø.

The donation of 25,000 kroner will be used for materials and group activities, training and coordination of volunteer mentors, as well as individual counseling and networking activities. The association, which collaborates with organizations like GirlTalk, businesses, and educational institutions, draws on a strong network of mentors and advisors from the business world.

– The goal is to strengthen young people's self-confidence, opportunities, and belief in a meaningful future – regardless of their starting point. The mentors, who are all volunteers, possess both professional and personal resources that they are eager to utilize to help this specific target group, says Helene Djursø.

OVERGANG is developed based on the experiences from Welcome Home – a mentoring initiative for returning veterans with strong results. Here, tailored mentoring programs, trusting relationships, and a close connection to the job market have helped more than 1,700 returning veterans reintegrate into civilian life and jobs.

– We know that the method works. That’s why we are now using the same principles to help young people without stable adults and without the belief that they can find their way. I hope and believe that OVERGANG can become just as great a success as Welcome Home – because the need is great, says Helene Djursø, who co-founded the association in 2024 along with several business professionals with experience from DSB, Copenhagen Airport, and KPMG.