Experiences curb loneliness

Kirkernes Integrations Tjeneste (Church Integration Service – KIT) works to combat and alleviate loneliness and exclusion among socially vulnerable children and young people aged 0-18 with a refugee background.

“We focus on children and young people and their families as research shows that twice as many of them experience loneliness compared to people with an ethnic Danish background,” says Ruben Holmgreen Falk, Secretary General of Kirkernes Integrations Tjeneste.

To combat loneliness, Kirkernes Integrations Tjeneste organises summer camps and trips through meeting points across the country.

“We give the whole family the opportunity to participate in meaningful communities, enjoy the Danish summer and create joy and unforgettable memories during the summer holidays,” explains Ruben Holmgreen Falk. He believes that the positive experiences will help children identify with their classmates and feel less lonely and more part of the community.

“We hope this will give them a good start for the coming school year and motivate them to go to school,” he says.

The project engages 500 volunteers who plan and organise summer activities for the target group. These volunteers are essential to creating a safe environment where children and their families thrive and grow.