Help at Christmas for families facing challenges

KIT’s Christmas assistance aims to give families from refugee or migrant backgrounds a chance to take part in joint Christmas activities, so the children are more content and feel included, both at home and at school.

KIT collaborates to provide help at Christmas at 52 meeting places across the country. Every year, Christmas events are held at the meeting places with support from KIT. Food is served, with music, fun and entertainment for both children and adults.

“We can see a growing need for help at Christmas. The Vissing Foundation’s donation to KIT helps us to support the places where people meet, so they are able to give help at Christmas in the form of a Christmas hamper or a gift voucher valued at DKK 700 per family,” says Ruben Holmgreen Falk, general secretary of KIT, Church Integration Ministries.

The help at Christmas goes primarily to marginalised families with children under 18 living at home. About 600 volunteers are involved in the KIT Christmas assistance project, which has set a target of helping 3,400 families in 2025.

“Christmas is one of the most important traditions in Danish culture, and many parents worry about being unable to celebrate Christmas with their children like other people. That means the children often worry too about whether their parents can afford to celebrate Christmas. For children from vulnerable families, Christmas may mean stomach upsets, loneliness and a feeling of not belonging,” says Ruben Holmgreen Falk.

”As the number of children with type 1 diabetes is increasing, and with an increased need for support during the transition, in which the child gradually has to assume responsibility of his or her own care, we offer a ’Diabetes Mastering’ course for children aged 10-13. The course will teach children to master their diabetes in everyday life through ’learning by doing’ and in a different setting than during a consultation at the diabetes ambulatory”, says Mia Sørensen Iken, Course Administrator for the Danish Diabetes Association.

In addition, the course will strengthen the child’s ability to network with other children in a similar situation and share experiences, as well as familiarise the child with co-operation with health professionals.