Nature as a Healing Space in a Jobcenter, in Copenhagen.

I was born close to nature, I grew up with it, and from the very beginning I felt that I was part of it. Later, life led me to look for work in big cities, and I moved away from nature. That is why I am grateful to live in a city that offers many green areas where I can hug a tree, listen to the sound of birds and running water. This is very beneficial both for healing the emotions and for fostering balance between mind, body, and spirit.

For this reason, I find the idea of Jobcenter Valby creating a garden wonderful—inviting unemployed people to reconnect with nature and learn something from it, even while being within the cold walls of a job search center.

Last summer, I was fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries myself. In between sessions and while navigating the challenges of finding a job—especially as a foreigner over 50—I found comfort in that green space. Sometimes I would enjoy a smørrebrød, a traditional Nordic open-faced sandwich, prepared with fresh, aromatic herbs grown in the garden. Surrounded by newly planted trees bearing identification plaques, and accompanied by the occasional visit from a butterfly or a small bird, it became a quiet little sanctuary during a demanding time.

It is so important to humanize cities with subtle spaces where we feel embraced by the natural elements to which we have always belonged. In Denmark, there is a concept called Hygge, which has a broad meaning but essentially is about intentional comfort and emotional balance — creating small pockets of well-being in daily life. It reflects the Danish value of slowing down, appreciating simplicity, and nurturing a sense of belonging and inner peace.

I believe that this small "Unemployed People’s Garden" in Copenhagen is an expression of Hygge, helping to ease the process of finding a job and the frustration to not find a place in the Danish job market despite our personal efforts.

Photos: Silvana Lucolli (Jobcenter Valby)