The joy was great for Secretary General Pernille Gry Petersen when she received the news that 'Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld' has decided to donate 100,000 kroner to the organization's work to create better conditions for a good childhood for vulnerable children and young people.

– This is a donation that means a lot for our work. We are a civil society organization that is deeply dependent on donations, says Pernille Gry Petersen.

A carefree upbringing is far from a given for everyone. Many children and young people today grow up under difficult social conditions and have a life that is vulnerable and filled with deprivation.

– Together with our member organizations, we work every day to improve the lives of more than 100,000 children and young people. These are children who need someone to speak up for them, says the Secretary General.

No money for food

The Children's Rights Council is Denmark's oldest children's rights organization and is the umbrella organization for a total of 18 other member organizations, all of which work for children's and young people's right to grow up in good and safe conditions.

These are families with children living in poverty, children and young people placed outside their homes, children who are relatives of substance abusers, or children and young people who generally grow up under challenging and vulnerable conditions.

– Through our member organizations, we have the opportunity to gain unique insights into the child welfare area, as we can draw on their knowledge, professionalism, and practical experiences. We receive strong testimonies from organizations that, for example, visit homes where there is no money for food, people who refrain from buying essential medicine. We have children who cannot afford to attend a birthday party and therefore become isolated, says Pernille Gry Petersen.

Currently, the 'Child's Law', which came into effect on January 1, 2024, is particularly significant in the organization's work. The law aims to strengthen children's rights in several areas and means that children gain party status when they turn ten years old.

– The intention of the 'Child's Law' is good, but it can be difficult to implement the new legislation in a municipal everyday life that is already under pressure and lacks the necessary resources. For the Children's Rights Council, it is important to ensure that the legal rights of vulnerable children and families are upheld, says Pernille Gry Petersen.

Larger amounts for distribution

The couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen established Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S in 1979. The couple has now transferred ownership to a foundation with the desire to both preserve and develop the business in Danish hands and to support charitable and local causes.

– With this foundation, we have secured a future for Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rentals, which we have always referred to as our 'third child', and at the same time, we have realized our dream of contributing to making a difference for others, says Kjeld Andersen.

– We are pleased that we can support an organization like 'Børnesagens Fællesråd' – with more than 100,000 children and young people in vulnerable positions, there is a need to work towards ensuring they can have a good childhood. Hopefully, this donation can contribute to this important work, says Margit Andersen.

In total, the foundation has donated nearly three million kroner this year, and the expectation is that this amount will increase in the future.

– The foundation is a guiding star for the employees at Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, and we want to make a difference in relation to our surroundings by supporting local and charitable causes. The better we do it at Sol og Strand, the greater the significance it has for the foundation and its work, says Per Dam, who is the CEO of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S.