This is the first time that funds are being distributed from the foundation, and the Danish representative of the orphanage is grateful that the project is among the selected.

– It is very touching and very impressive that the foundation chooses to support our work to help the children at the orphanage. It is a pat on the back for the volunteer work we do. 100,000 kroner is a lot of money here in Denmark, but in India, 1 million rupees, which is the equivalent, can make a very big difference, says Peter Simonsen, who is the chairman of the Hyderabad Foundation, consisting of sponsors who support the operation of the orphanage.

The orphanage was established in 1955 by an Indian couple who chose not to have children because they could not bear to see poor children abandoned by their parents outside hospitals and temples. The couple dedicated their lives to giving 200 children a better fate than the one they were facing. Today, there are a total of 250 boys and girls at the orphanage, where a leader and 15 staff members are employed.

– It has been possible to establish a school at the orphanage, which has now been recognized by the Indian government. Thanks to the education, several of the children have become so skilled that they have the potential to continue their studies, but it is difficult to secure funding for that. It has been possible to raise sponsors to send a few to university. With this donation, we can ensure a university education for 20 students, Peter Simonsen explains, adding that education is of great importance in a country without a social safety net and with a caste system.

– Coming from an orphanage, one is regarded as the absolute lowest rank in the caste system in India. Therefore, education can help break the cycle of social inheritance.

The donation of 100,000 kroner also allows for repairs at the orphanage, which has been affected by storm damage. Furthermore, COVID-19 has meant that the orphanage has been cut off from receiving the usual food supplies from the local community. Therefore, part of the money will be earmarked for purchasing food.

Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental transitioned to foundation ownership in 2019. According to plan, "Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld," which is currently under construction, was not supposed to start distributing funds for charitable purposes until 2022. However, the fund's board has decided to distribute one million already this year.

– This is the first time we are distributing from the fund, and the board has selected a total of ten organizations, each receiving 100,000 kroner. This time, the selection has been based on the wishes of the fund's founders, Margit and Kjeld Andersen. Going forward, distributions will be based on applications we receive, says the fund's chairman, Jens Stadum.

The couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen are pleased that they now have the opportunity to realize a dream they have had for many years for Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, which they founded in 1979. The couple started by renting out their own summer house, and the company now manages the rental of around 6,500 Danish holiday homes, making it one of the largest Danish rental agencies.

In November 2019, they transferred ownership of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S to the commercial foundation, which aims to support charitable and local causes. From 2022/23, the expectation is that the foundation will be able to distribute up to 75 percent of the profits from Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental to these purposes annually. Thus, by choosing to rent out your summer house or book a holiday stay through Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental, you are indirectly helping to make a difference for others.

The company calls this "Holidays with a Good Heart," and it is entirely in line with Margit and Kjeld Andersen's wishes and hopes for the business.

– By establishing this foundation, we ensure that our life's work of renting out Danish holiday homes continues in Danish hands and is not sold to, for example, a foreign capital fund, and we are happy that it is possible to distribute funds earlier than planned. The Hyderabad Foundation has always been close to our hearts, and it warms us to know that the foundation is helping to ensure education, which we have always believed is important for a society and even more so for a country like India, say Margit and Kjeld Andersen.