Meaningful and Inclusice Youth Mastering Music to Cope with Mental Health

Jan 18

Who: Come Closer

What: Cultural activities

Where: Bergen

Project period: 2016 – 2020

“Come Closer” is a project that adapts cultural activities for adolescences between 13-23 years of age, with connections to child welfare services or treatment / follow-up in mental health-care. Some of the participants have immigrant background.

PARTICIPATION - BELONGING - MASTERY

“Come Closer” was started in 2003 by board chairman and music therapist Viggo Krüger. For the past 16 years, the project has had over 350 participations. We are based in Bergen (15-25 participants regularly) and Oslo (6-8 participants regularly), and have had projects in Trondheim, Skien and Kristiansand. 

“Come Closer” arranges: 

Weekly cultural activities in Bergen and Oslo
 Summer-activities for the participants (Bergen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Hyssingen Production school)
 Summer-trips, cabin -rips in Norway and trips abroad
Annual concerts
Songwriting-workshops with artists/musicians
Participation/Representations on conferences
Media appearances 
Studio-recordings

“Come Closer”´s albums and releases are available at Spotify and other streaming-services under the name «Kom Nærmere» and «Kom Nærmere Oslo».

All activities are carried out with the group’s core objective, which is largely related to facilitating meaningful and social activities for young people. Our activities are aimed at children and adolescents who make little use of existing cultural activities. We promote equality and equal opportunities for girls and boys, and contribute to social inclusion and mutual acceptance. Our focus is also on integration for young people who are at risk of falling outside social networks and communities. 

“Come closer”´s main focus is:

Contribute to mastery, motivation and increased self-esteem trough the use of music, dance and theater as tools
Contribute to positive experiences and group affiliation / social relations
Contribute to giving young people a voice in relation to decision-making and their own lives

The activities and trips arranged by Kom Nærmere is  free of charge  for the participants. 