The Municipality of Svendborg with 59,193 inhabitants is located at the southern part of the island of Funen, Denmark. The main city and administrative center is the city of Svendborg (27,600 inhabitants). In addition the municipality consists of 22 smaller villages scattered across Funen and five inhabited islands.

The aging population is a potential serious economic and social threat to the development in this municipality. Elderly citizens typically place a greater burden on healthcare and public services than younger individuals. Combined with a growing sense of discontent among children and youth, municipality is potentially facing a very serious problem as it may weaken and make fragile our future workforce. It is therefore crucial to invest in the resilience of children and youth and support development of a resourceful, and rooted young population capable of bearing and learning from the burdens of the future.

Examining these strengths and weaknesses of Svendborg a clear path becomes evident. Loneliness is on the rise, and a significant number of children and youth are not engaging in social communities. Simultaneously, research indicates that being part of social communities—particularly those of co-creation fosters empowerment, self-efficacy and self-confidence. This, in turn, contributes to social resilience. The problem municipality want to address with the Culture and Resilience Action plan is consequently the increasing discontent among youth, and the goal is to enable them to participate in social communities and encourage them to build and develop new communities.

Visit: www.svendborg.dk

Activities & Events

Surrounded by the citizens Svendborg receives the award

On 31 May the BSR Cultural Pearls Awarding ceremonies took place in Svendborg as part of the public event “Maritime Dage – Åben Ø” – two days showcasing and celebration of the maritime identity, love of sea and crafts. This event is organized by NGOs, artists, communities, local educational and private companies wanting to show, tell or involve the citizens and city guests in the marine activities and create cultural communities.

The award was received by Chairperson of the Council for Culture and Leisure of Svendborg Ms Hanne Ringgaard Møller. In her thank you speech she focused on her concerns about the young people, their self-confidence and hope to wake up in the morning and fight for a cultural and social quality of life. A life which is not only based on educational results, grades, and career.

Strengthening the resilience of the community by engaging youth

One of the problems the municipality of Svendborg is addressing as part of their Culture and Resilience Action plan being a Cultral Pearl 2024, is to decrease discontent among youth enabling them to participate in social communities and encourage them to build and develop new communities themselves.

As a result, 13 young people dived into the creativity and self-expression in the 12-week CulturalSpaces course open to those aged 15-30 experiencing mental distress, requiring referrals from school counsellors, youth guidance, or job consultants.