Crown Princess Mary and The Mary Foundation (Launched September 11, 2007)

[iceflower]

__________________



Here's another very nice gallery with pics from yesterday:



** Free from Bullying Campaign - Esbjerg town hall - September 21, 2011 **


One from purepeople:


** Mary de Danemark : Une princesse de coeur toujours souriante et élégante **


And a svenskdam article:


** Kronprinsessan Mary mot mobbning **

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #39, 2011.
Mary gør en forskel - Mary makes a difference.
Written by Ken Richter.

As you know Mary went to Esbjerg, because the entire municipality of Esbjerg has decided to implement Free From Bullying in all the schools and kindergardens there.
That is pretty significant as Esbjerg is the sixth of fifth largest city in DK. (*)
Mary said in her speech: "Bullying is an insecure condition/or state to be in which can influence/make an imprint on a person for the rest of the life. Free from Bullying show significant results. 60 % of the pedagogues and teachers who use the concept, experince that the children become more helpful (towards each other) and more caring. That's why it's nice that we can be a part of making a difference"

Mary also met children from a local kindergarden, who had brought with them "the little blue teddy bear", which is an essential part in the concept.

(*) As you know everything is smaller in DK. I define a city as having more than 100.000 citizens. Esbjerg is around 100.000 IIRC.
By that definition we only have five or six cities in DK.

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler.

It is great to see that the Free from Bullying campaign is having positive results.
A work colleague of mine had a young fourteen year old relative take his own life, due to bullying first at school then on the net. Such unnecessary heartache.

I am proud of Mary for her involvement, if it stops one person from being bullied, it is certainly a success in my eyes.

[fairy tale]

Crown Princess Mary at the inauguration of a new project with the Mary Foundation at Danalien Kindergarten in Aalborg, October 3, 2011.
picture gallery: PPE Agency

[iceflower]

____________________


Some more great pics from today can be found here:



** sn.dk: Billedserie: Kronprinsesse Mary i børnehave **

** nordjyske.dk: Vigtigt at få sat ord på ** gallery **

[marfre]

Thanks iceflower and fairytale.

Lovely photos of Mary with the children.

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #40, 2011.
Mary læser højt for sine børn - Mary reads to her children.
Written by Ken Richter.
http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige...e%20boern.aspx

Mary visited the kindergarten Danalien in Aalborg, where a project called ReadPlay was presented.
The aim is to help kindergarten children in getting a larger vocabulary in order to help them form being socially isolated, something which the Mary Foundation put emphasis on.
Mary said in her speech: "Reading out loud (for your children) is a moment of comfort/safety, which no one wish to let go off. It stimulates the fantasy and creates images.
By reading to children, we give them a gift for life. Words open doors - also to knowledge and wisdom.
Children understand the world better, when they also understand the words. In that way they'll easier become part of a comunity".

She said afterwards about her own children: "We read to all four of them and not only bedtime stories. It depends a lot upon what it is we are reading. It's after all not always that bedtime is the best time for reading out aloud.
My daughter, Isabella, in particular, can be very insiting. She go on about wanting to have the same story read to her again and again."

[Muhler]

Billed-Bladet - Bekymret Mary: Det gør ondt at være ensom

The Mary Foundation is now going to put focus on one more social issue - loneliness.

10% of all youths lack someone to be with - a friend.
65.000 Danes above the age of 65 feel lonely.
- We are not talking about someone to be with, but someone to confide in, again, a close friend.

The Mary Foundation will therefore launch a new campaign named Loneliness, at a conference in mid November.

Marys says: "Loneliness is a big and real problem in Denmark. And it hurts to be alone. In time it becomes akward and difficult to build relations to other people. It is my hope that we can take part in breaking the tabu about loneliness and contribute with an increased knowledge and models of soultions within the field".

- It is a genuine problem for those who are lonely. Mrs. Muhler, as a part of her job, works with a number of elderly who are lonely, and she has to kick butts sometimes, quite often actually.
According to her, the problem is not solved with just bringing people together. The problem is just as much about changing the attitude of those who are/have become lonely.
Either they and their spouse sat in front of the TV every night for the past fifteen years, before goind to bed and that was their life. Then the spouse died - and now there are noone.
Or they sit and feel sorry for themselves or just as bad, grumble and complain about everything. And who wants to be with someone like that? It's a huge problem to change their attitude to being positive. But once that happen everything changes.
Or those who remain at home saying: "I'm lonely, noone is visiting me". Of course you are, noone is kicking down the door and dragging you with them. You have to go out.
- The examples I mentioned above, they are the easy ones!

It's a big area Mary is about to deal with. I applaud her for going there.

[iceflower]

Today, November 14, Crown Princess Mary has launched the new campaign "Loneliness" supported
by The Mary Foundation in Copenhagen.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** bt.dk: Mary: Det giver et stik i hjertet når man bliver afvist **

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by iceflower

Today, November 14, Crown Princess Mary has launched the new campaign "Loneliness" supported
by The Mary Foundation in Copenhagen.
** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** bt.dk: Mary: Det giver et stik i hjertet når man bliver afvist **

Thank you. Iceflower

Let's see what she had to say:

The new focus of the Mary Foundation is loneliness, which is in line with the focus on bullying and the concept that all children should not be excluded.

She said in her speech:
"To a lot of people loneliness is not merely a passing sensation. It's a constant companion. It can have big consequences to feel alone for far too long, among other things depression stems from loneliness.
That's why loneliness is an important and fitting area to set in for the Mary Foundation. We hope, we can help show what roads and initiatives, that can lead fom loneliness and into the (social) community.
Most have experienced loneliness. Have felt how it hurts, that sting in the heart it gives, when you are rejected. The sensation of not fitting in, in the conversation or the feeling of feeling outside the (social) community".

This initiative is not only directed at children, but also youths and elderly.

[iceflower]

Thanks Muhler! A short part of that speech can be found in the following video:



** nyhederne.tv2.dk: Kronprinsesse Mary begynder den svære samtale **


Here's an additional gallery from sn.dk and some extra pics:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 **


A gallery from TV2:

** GALLERI: Kronprinsesse Mary kæmper mod ensomhed **


And one that combines Mary's event with the one Princess Marie attended today:


** Princesse Mary et sa douceur, princesse Marie et sa mini-grossesse, même combat **


** ppe gallery ** jv.dk gallery **

[Daria_S]

Thank you Muhler, and iceflower for providing the articles and pictures that dealt with today's event.

The issue of loneliness is something I feel strongly about, especially when it comes to children/people with special needs. I've seen too many kids and adults slip into severe depression because they were rejected by their peers, and what's worse, not given social skills that would allow them to hold a conversation, etc. I realize now how important it is to have those skills that most take for granted, and I hope that Mary and her foundation will provide tools that will help those who are struggling with socializing and befriending.

[Muhler]

Excerpts from article in sn.dk Mary: - Jeg følte mig meget ensom - De Kongelige

Where Mary talks about loneliness.
Mary: Jeg følte mig meget ensom - Mary: I felt very lonely.

"There are many possible reasons for feeling lonely. Sudden life-crisises is one of them: Perhaps you have moved to new place. Perhaps you have been sacked. It can be illness within the family or that you have lost a parent. That's how it was for me, when I lost my mother. I felt very lonely with my grief during the period afterwards. A feeling of going around without interacting with anyone. As if the world went on and I stood still".

That so many young suffer from loneliness came as a surprise for Mary:
"When we in the Mary Foundation for the first time questioned our Young Think Tank about loneliness, we were surprised over the result. The analazys showed a tough/sinister picture: Many young feel lonely. Youths don't talk about their loneliness and more than one in three young believe their loneliness is their own fault. The young experienced it as embarrassing that they had no friends. It was obvious that additional knowledge, dialogue and debate about the subject was needed. Those who are lonely must know that there are many in the same situation".

Mary ended her speech by saying:
"We must be more attentive about those who are lonely. We must reach out - we must help find solutions.
We all have a responsibillity in looking after each other, just as we have a responsibillity for accepting helping hands. And there is fortunately help to be had - the first step on the way is to talk to someone about it".

[Lady Rosie]

Thank you for that Muhler. I have to say that Crown Princess Mary is tackling a very worthwhile cause. I nodded my head as I read most of that post. Her description of loneliness was obviously from the heart. I sincerely hope Mary can spread the word and save many Danes from the terrible feelings that lonliness brings.

[Muhler]

Billed Bladet #46 is out and this week we have the following treats:

Our Marie and the National Association for Autism. Apparantly someone very close to Marie has autism.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ml#post1338248

The ballet for UNICEF, attended by QMII and Countess Alexandra.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ml#post1338254

We learn that the Regent Couple has become homeless or rather palace-less after the damage as a result of the cloudburst this summer.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ml#post1338263

We have a few details about M&F visiting Sydney.

The Q&A this week are
The Remembrance poppy.
Why didn't Mary wear a uniform at the 50th anniversary of the Home Guard?
Was Princess Diana ever in DK? - Yes, once. In 1995.

We follow Mary at the naming of the new frigate, with special emphasis on her clothing and shoes.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ml#post1338267

There is an interview with Joachim and his Marie, who are both very talkative. The fair Marie in particular is smitten by Japan.

QMII has written a preface for the Artrisis Association, which will turn 75 soon.

Roger Moore praise M&F for their effort for UNICEF and East Africa.

And this:

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #46, 2011.
Jeg følte mig meget ensom - I felt very lonely.
Written by Anna Johannesen.

By now you know what Mary spoke about in connection with the emphasis on loneliness, the new initiative launched by the Mary Foundation.

Mary also said in her speech:
"Loneliness hurts. It gives it a little sting in the heart to be rejected or to experience to be outside the (social) community. We all have a basic need for being seen/noticed and acknowledged. We need a partner/buddy, who keeps an eye on us and look after us.
It should not be embarrassing or akward to be lonely. Its hard enough as it is.
We need to speak out loud about loneliness".

Mary told our reporter afterwards about how she dealt with her own feelings after the death of her mother:
"Time helped me, but it's a bit hard to describe. I naturally sought help from family and friends and got it, so that's why my loneliness wasn't a long term state of affairs or evolved into chronical loneliness. It was a hard time in my life, but I moved on.
My familiy meant a lot but I lived somewhere else, away from them, when I lost my mother, so I felt very alone with my grief, which will be there for the rest of my life. Because that's how it is when you lose someone you cared for and who was so close to you".

Mary was still struggeling with the last stages of her cold, when she met representatives for the organisation the Valve.
The Valve has fourteen places all over DK, where young between 15 and 25 can meet and deal with their loneliness.
The Mary Foundation has started a cooperation with the Valve.
One of those she met was ten year old Victor who has lost his father. Victor now has an adult friend, the 38 year old Martin. And that has had a clear affect on Victor, who has become more cheerful.
Victor explains: "Martin comes visiting two or three times a week. It only takes him seven minuttes to ride a bicycle out to me".
Victor hope that other children will have an adult friend "when they become really sad".

[JessRulz]

Crown Princess Mary will be in Washington, D.C. between February 27th and March 1st, attending the second World Conference of Women's Shelters. She will speak at the opening of the conference; after visiting a women's shelter and presenting a donation of $US2.3million to The Inter-American Development Bank from the Danish government.

Kronprinsessen besøger konferencen 2nd World Conference of Women?s Shelters i Washington - Kongehuset

[dazzling]

Press release

[Muhler]

Finally something new.

The newspaper Jyllands Posten writes about the workshop organised by the Mary Foundation. Alle vil i workshop med kronprinsesse Mary

As you know, Mary will open the conference in New York about women suffering from domestic abuse.
The Mary Foundation has a workshop afterwards about providing economic help for such women, so that they can move on. (Often such women will lose everything, if they leave their husband/partner, as everything is in his name and because they are the ones leaving).
That workshop is the most sought after among the participants in the conference.
The manager of the Mary Foundation, Helle Østergaard, explains: "The organisers of the conference has send out an inquiery to all the participants about which workshops they would like to attend. And they have now reported back to us that our workshop is the one that is most in demand".

There are around 100 workshops from more than 90 countries at this conference.

[Patra]

Looking forward to seein CP Mary in DC this week for her foundation activities.

[Daria_S]

Thank you Muhler, and Florencia for information and first pictures. I'm glad Mary is working with such worthy causes. Her foundation appears to have helped so many.