More than 230,000 Danes live with a late-acquired brain injury, and each year around 1,550 children and young people are affected – among other things due to accidents, infections, illness, substance abuse, violence, blood clots, or brain hemorrhages. What they have in common is that the injury occurs at an age when the brain is not fully developed. Therefore, they are often affected on multiple levels, and many struggle with social relationships and participation in communities.

– They are challenged not only by their disability but also by the fact that their brain is not fully developed. They have difficulty understanding themselves, and it is generally incredibly hard for this group, says Morten Lorenzen, who is the director of the Brain Injury Association.

Many experience a daily life marked by isolation, sensory challenges, and difficulties in engaging in social contexts. To help this group, the Brain Injury Association established the universe 'Young Brains' eight years ago.

– It is a community where they can reflect each other, and where they do not need to explain themselves. The others feel the same way, says Morten Lorenzen.

'Young Brains' organizes the so-called 'Experience Days', where participants can engage in activities that enhance both well-being and quality of life. The activities vary widely – from trips to Legoland, the Zoo, and Fårup Sommerland to boat trips, music festivals, and forest outings, where they, among other things, build bivouacs.

– The events are organized in collaboration with our 27 local branches, and there are always volunteers and professionals present. The goal is the same every time: to create positive shared experiences in safe environments, says Morten Lorenzen.

The experience days bring smiles to faces and new relationships.

The experience days provide participants with a space where they can join on their own terms – with the considerations and safety their situation requires.

– They get smiles on their faces and they laugh – and donations like this help us create exactly these activities. It is hard not to get emotional, because we can really see that the trips contribute to creating quality of life. New relationships and friendships are formed, and we hear from the relatives that they get a child home who seems happier, says Morten Lorenzen.