MARGINALISED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Hospital workshop for children who are ill

The SMIL foundation’s workshop is called the SMILE, and aims to be a regular base at the hospital with surroundings like home. It is intended as a free space where children can take a break from their illness, form new friendships, and reduce negative feelings such as loneliness.

The idea for the SMILE arose at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which has a creative children’s house where children of all ages can work with scissors and glue or paint, or build models etc. Being ill often brings many limitations with it, so the vision is for the SMILE to be a place where anything is possible. Not only do the children find an alternative to their iPad or staring at the ceiling; they find something they can master. They are also part of a strong community – and in the SMILE people meet over shared projects, and not over illness.

The workshop is staffed by experts at promoting child art and committed regular volunteers. They all have a firm understanding of the many challenges the children face, and how to build up confidence.

“The SMILE is for all children and young people associated with Aarhus University Hospital. They may be children who are il and come for treatment, examinations or surgery at the hospital, or relatives of children being treated. The grant from the Vissing Foundation makes a real difference to the way we can give the children some much-needed free space,” says Rikke Lykstoft from the SMIL foundation.