There was obvious joy at Self-Help Herning when the association received the news that "Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld" supports the association with a total of 50,000 kroner.

– We are very grateful for this donation, which makes it possible to offer crisis-affected men an eight-week program in a self-help group, says acting daily manager, Maria Hussak.

The program is titled "Move On Man," and the target group is adult men who find themselves in a difficult situation and are therefore at risk for their mental health. This can be due to divorce, dismissal, grief, or illness.

– Men are not very good at handling life crises because they may find it difficult to share their thoughts and feelings when life is tough. Research shows that 20 percent of men aged 25-39 do not have a confidant, and joining a self-help group can be a great help.

– It is a confidential forum where there is an opportunity to talk with others who have also struggled with life. It helps them to gain clarity about their situation, see new possibilities, and become aware of how they can achieve their goals, says Maria Hussak, mentioning a specific example.

– In one of the programs, we had a man who had just gotten divorced, and unfortunately, he also lost his job during the program. But he found a new job, and he left the program with newfound joy and optimism. Additionally, he had rediscovered his old values and resumed his relationships, so he was indeed a man who had moved on, she says.

This example is not an isolated case. Self-Help Herning has been running "Move On Man" programs since 2018, and according to Maria Hussak, it has resulted in several men getting back to work and many reducing their stress levels and risk of developing depression.

– There are good experiences with these programs – the biggest challenge is actually recruiting men, as they tend to hide away, so we will spend a lot of energy reaching the target group, she says, encouraging people to contact Self-Help Herning if they are interested in hearing more about the project.

Dream has come true

The couple Margit and Kjeld Andersen founded Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning A/S in 1979. In connection with the company's 40th anniversary, the couple 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.

– We are delighted that our dream of establishing "Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld" has become a reality, and that we have the opportunity to support such a valuable project as Self-Help Herning. It is important that these men have a confidential space where they can receive support to move on and regain faith in life, says Kjeld Andersen.

– We have received more than 100 applications, indicating a great need for assistance. Therefore, it is gratifying that we have been able to distribute nearly 2.2 million kroner to associations and organizations, 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 Feriehusudlejning 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 more significance it has for the foundation and its work, says Per Dam, who is the managing director of Sol og Strand Feriehusudlejning A/S.