Far too many girls and young women today suffer from anxiety, loneliness, and unhappiness—often without getting the help they need when they need it most. For many families, private psychological help is out of reach, and the waiting time in the public system is often long. That is why it is important that there is a service like GirlTalk, which works to prevent unhappiness among girls and young women aged 12–24.

GirlTalk currently has branches in Copenhagen, Aalborg, Odense, and Aarhus. The Sol og Strand Foundation, Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld, has previously supported GirlTalk's efforts in North Jutland, where free psychological counseling has proven to make a significant difference for girls experiencing unhappiness. The experiences gained here now form the basis for expanding the initiative to southern Denmark, where there is also a great need.

"This donation is incredibly important to GirlTalk. Now we can strengthen our efforts in southern Denmark and help girls who are struggling," says Anna Bjerre, director of GirlTalk.

Specifically, the funds will be used to hire a psychologist who can offer free psychological counseling, advice to girls and young women, and, not least, supervise the many volunteers who are an important part of GirlTalk.

We have around 70 dedicated volunteers affiliated with the office in Odense, all of whom make a huge difference every single day. It is essential that they are properly equipped to meet girls in vulnerable situations. That is why it is crucial that the volunteers receive ongoing supervision and professional sparring so that they feel confident and well-equipped for the task, says Anna Bjerre.

"When you volunteer at GirlTalk, you need to be able to support others and experience professional and personal growth yourself. We want to create a safe space where you are well equipped and gain experience and tools that you can take with you—even after your time with us," she says.

Anna Bjerre established GirlTalk in 2004. Today, the organization offers chat counseling, group courses, and psychological counseling, among other services. Over the years, the need for help has grown, and GirlTalk receives more than 9,500 inquiries each year.

The 2022 School Children Survey—a national questionnaire survey among schoolchildren in Denmark—showed that only 10 percent of 15-year-old girls are satisfied with their quality of life, and many struggle with low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and stress.

"Our primary goal at GirlTalk is to prevent girls from becoming seriously unhappy. We meet them where they are, strengthen their self-esteem and belief in their own abilities. Among other things, we give them tools for problem solving and strengthen their mental well-being," says Anna Bjerre.

With this donation, Sol og Strand and Kjeld Sol og Strand Foundation hopes to help even more girls gain access to free psychological help and counseling.

"With our support for GirlTalk, we want to support an initiative that is based on community, compassion, and early intervention—and that can make a real difference for girls and young women who are struggling. My hope is that we can give more girls in southern Denmark access to help in time – and in that way help them out of their unhappiness and show them a way forward in life, says the fund's co-founder, Margit Andersen.