Politicians in Ishøj have accepted a donation of 55 million kroner from the Center for Healthy Living and Well-being.

Children on a slide. Kindergarten in Kalundborg, June 22, 2021 (Photo: © Signe Goldmann, Ritzau Scanpix)

By Josephine Schack Thorsen ([email protected]) 47 minutes ago

Ishøj Municipality is receiving a huge sum of money to improve the health and well-being of the municipality's children and young people.

The politicians on the city council have formally accepted the donation of 55 million kroner from the Center for Healthy Living and Well-being, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The donation is the result of two years of work to identify the local community's challenges, needs, and resources, and the work will soon be translated into concrete initiatives, says Tine Curtis, project manager at the Center for Healthy Living and Well-being.

"We have three missions: to promote active communities, healthy food and food communities, as well as a sense of belonging and empowerment," she says.

This is a focus that Ishøj Municipality has long needed, believes Mayor Merete Amdisen (Social Democrats).

"It's no secret that we have a huge development potential in Ishøj when it comes to public health, so it's a tremendous gift to have the opportunity to elevate our efforts with outside help – both financially and with knowledge and resources," she says.

*The money comes at a dry spot*

The money is much needed, says Naja Dieu, who is the professional coordinator for the youth school Ishøj Ungdom.

"More and more children and young people in Ishøj experience not belonging – neither at school, in their free time, nor in society. Here, the money can help create meaningful communities so that children and young people gain a stronger sense of belonging and more empowerment," she says.

A concrete initiative could be to create more part-time jobs for young people, or to set up a "learning environment" by the water where young people can hang out.

"The foundation grant gives us the opportunity to work long-term on young people's well-being," says Naja Dieu.

There was full agreement in the city council to accept the donation.

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