New Youth Café has opened. ADULTS NO ACCESS!!!

What can you do in the Youth Café?

"It's very different what young people do here." They can "hang out" with their friends, play some of the café's board games, they can sit and do homework, read a book or they can play on the computer, for example."

Laila has spent time and money buying new items for the café and has decorated it with cushions, cosy corners and string lights. An average of 50-55 children visit the café every day and, according to Laila, around 100 different children visit in the course of a week.

"The kids seem happy with the café, and I can see that it's an initiative that has been needed. The young people have been missing this teenage room where they can just socialise," she says.

Why is it free for young people?

"The café should be a place where everyone can come. And not all children can afford to go to a café if it costs anything."

Is the Ungecafé designed for young people to get out and socialise more?

"Yes, among other things. When you're in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade, you often want to be "on your own" and not spend so much time with "small" 4th and 5th graders. So the café is designed as an offer for older children, and if they didn't come here, they might just go home or sit somewhere without responsible adults around them."

You used to work in the Pump Station kitchen. Are you no longer working there?

"No, I haven't. I've completely stopped working in the kitchen at Pumpestationen, where Karina has replaced me."

As a member of the Pump Station, young people in 6th and 7th grade are allowed to bring friends to the café occasionally. From 8th grade onwards, all young people can come there, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the Pump Station or not," explains Laila.

"You are very welcome to bring your friends. But the rule is that you basically have to register at the Pump Station if you want to keep coming after three visits as a guest. We'd also love for 8th and 9th graders to sign up, although they don't have to," says Laila.

Can children who don't live in Copenhagen also come here?

"Yes, you can be a guest here three times."

Who else works in the café besides you?

"At the moment, I have six young people aged 13 to 15 years old who each work here a couple of hours a week. In addition, I have two girls who come and bake for the café every Monday, and I've just hired an adult - Marcus - to help me 25 hours a week," says Laila.

According to Laila, the young people who work in the café have all previously either attended the Pump Station or have been associated with the club by working in the kitchen, for example.

"Now they have started here in the café, and the long-term goal is for the young people to more or less run the café by making menu plans, serving, baking and organising various activities. In fact, they have already organised various activities, including scented candles, a jewellery café and various quizzes," says Laila.

Since you have such a nice menu, how much can I order from it?

"You can order one dish a day - either savoury or sweet. So you can't just sit and order four cakes and seven bagels, for example. Otherwise it gets out of hand. On the other hand, young people can drink whatever they want."