New non-profit strategy: Children and youth at risk must have more influence
Egmont introduces a new non-profit strategy meant to tackle some of the significant societal challenges affecting children and young people at risk. With this strategy, Egmont aims, among other things, to reinforce children and youth participation and empowerment.
Children and youths living in difficult conditions should have significantly better opportunities to create a good life, get educated, and actively participate in society. That's the focus of Egmont's new non-profit strategy. For the next six years, it will guide Egmont's support for children and young people at risk.
"There's a lot happening in the world right now. Therefore, more than ever, we need to prepare our children and young people and support those who are struggling the most. Child poverty is on the rise in Denmark. Too many youths still don't complete an education. Meanwhile, the democratic dialogue is under massive pressure, risking the marginalization and unheard stories of children and young people. This is the wrong development, and we need to reverse it," says Heidi Sørensen, Executive Director at Egmont's Grant Administration.
In 2024, the number of children living in poverty increased to 49,500. About 43,000 young people still lack education and jobs. Children and young people at risk often lack opportunities to participate in the democratic development of everything from school to leisure and social efforts that affect their lives.
New vision and three focus areas
The strategy builds on over a century's work supporting children at risk. With the new non-profit strategy, Egmont sharpens its focus on three focus areas to achieve the vision of all children and adolescents having equal opportunities to create a good life, get educated, and participate actively in society. Egmont aims to strengthen children and adolescents' voice, participation, and empowerment.
"At Egmont, we have worked for many years to ensure that children and young people in vulnerable positions are heard and involved. Now we're taking a new step, enabling children and youths in difficult living conditions to become far more active participants in developing the frameworks and efforts that affect their daily life," says Heidi Sørensen.
The new strategy will support both immediate transformations and complex actions requiring a long, hard pull and coordination with multiple actors. The foundation intensifies its agenda-setting work, several times a year, bringing new knowledge about and from children and young people at risk.
All to push systemic changes that can create a better future for children and young people struggling the most.
FACTS
Egmont is a commercial foundation with a dual purpose: To run media business and support children and young people in difficult living conditions in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Egmont's new strategy builds on over 100 years of work for children in difficult living conditions. Three key issues will set the agenda for the foundation's work in 2025-30:
Reducing deprivation for children in poverty: Egmont will work to lessen the negative consequences of growing up in poverty. The goal is for economically impoverished children and young people to experience fewer material deprivations and have better opportunities to thrive, learn, and be part of the community in the family, school, and leisure activities.
Education for all: Egmont will work to ensure that children and young people in difficult living conditions have the same opportunities to learn, grow, and educate themselves as other children and adolescents—also those who do not follow the straight path through the education system. The objective is to reinforce children and young people's skills in reading and mathematics, so they pass the school-leaving exam and are prepared for secondary education.
Enhanced participation and empowerment: Egmont will strive to give more children and young people in difficult living conditions an active voice in society, empowerment, and a part in the development of initiatives concerning their lives. The objective is for children and young people to act as co-developers of initiatives and frameworks in school, education systems, leisure activities, and social efforts.
Egmont supports/has supported organizations advocating children and young people's rights. They also strengthen children and young people's learning and work for children in poverty like Mother's Aid, Danish People's Aid, The Norwegian Women's Public Health Association, and many more. Moreover, Egmont has established the signature program "SygtStærk," a community for young people living with chronic or severe illness.
For further information
Contact the Head of Communications and Press, Tine Pind Jørum; Phone: 2711 6896; tj@egmont.com.