When daily life is marked by difficult circumstances, a safe space offering companionship and a sense of community can make a noticeable difference. With a donation of 25,000 kroner, the Sol og Strand Foundation, Sol og Strand Margit and Kjeld, supports the Danish Red Cross Youth’s social and activity clubs at Løkkehus in Odense and at Toppen and Skovkanten in Aarhus.

“The Youth Red Cross is 100 percent funded by foundations. That’s why donations like this are absolutely crucial to our work and to our ability to organize activities for children and young people,” says Ida Seest Dam, senior program consultant at the Youth Red Cross.

The children and young people living in children’s and youth homes have been placed outside their homes because their life circumstances require special intervention and support. This may be due to social challenges, unhappiness, or complex family issues.

“These are children and young people who cannot be placed in foster care. Some of the country’s most vulnerable children and young people live here,” says Ida Seest Dam.

There are currently 10 children’s and youth homes in Denmark, and three more are expected to open over the coming year.

At the group homes, the children and young people enjoy a safe daily routine with educational support, but many still miss out on what amounts to a normal teenage life. That is precisely why the social and recreational clubs are so important.

The clubs are run by young volunteers who all share a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

– Our focus is on creating safe and welcoming communities with volunteers who are there because they want to be. In the clubs, children and young people can be part of a community with their peers. They have positive experiences, strengthen their social skills, and get the chance to experience a more normal childhood and adolescence, says Ida Seest Dam.

The Youth Red Cross has about 80 young volunteers who organize activities and events at the various residential facilities. These range from trips to the movies and creative workshops to cooking and social gatherings at the facility.

– The children and young people living in the homes often have a limited social network and are surrounded by professional relationships. At the clubs, they meet young people who volunteer because they want to—and that makes a big difference, says Ida Seest Dam.

Although the clubs’ primary mission is to provide positive experiences, the volunteers also focus on schooling and education. Today, only about 11 percent of children and young people in foster care complete their elementary school graduation exams, according to Ida Seest Dam.

“Some have lost faith in their own abilities after negative experiences in school. We try to create activities that motivate learning and boost their self-esteem so they can regain the confidence that they can complete an education,” she says.

These social and recreational clubs are also very important to the institutions. With tight budgets, it can be difficult to prioritize activities and outings outside the facility.

– We hear from the staff that our clubs are a real asset. The volunteers can take the children and young people out—to a café, the theater, or the movies. It becomes a kind of training ground where they can practice being part of society. For many, volunteering becomes an important stepping stone to a life outside the institution, says Ida Seest Dam.