Kilden Foundation
An inclusive haven
Imagine a place where no one has to struggle because of being different or an outsider. A place where everyone is regarded as a whole person with more opportunities than challenges. That is exactly what the Kilden Foundation is – a socio-economic enterprise based at Esrum Abbey & Møllegård. Meet those people here!
Meaningful collaboration
Can a socio-economic enterprise that develops young people and adults with special needs have a meaningful collaboration with a historic site that creates natural and cultural experiences for countless people? Absolutely! At Esrum Abbey & Møllegård, the two things are inextricably linked.
Meet us
The students and staff of the Kilden Foundation play a vital role in the work of looking after and running Esrum Abbey & Møllegård. You can meet the students and staff in the abbey garden – looking after all the plants or mowing the lawn in the apple orchard – behind the counter in The Mill Café, at one of the monthly soup kitchens, or at the various events hosted by Esrum Abbey & Møllegård.
A socio-economic enterprise
The Kilden Foundation is a socio-economic enterprise dedicated to both training and production. Through training and employment, the young people develop in a way that transforms special needs into special skills – skills they can go on to use in the business world. When Kilden’s students and staff meet guests in the area as representatives of the place, they get to see and feel that their work is a meaningful contribution – appreciated and important for people’s experience of Esrum Abbey & Møllegård. And that’s moving!
The Mill Café – a special eatery
Students, staff and trained professionals are responsible for the entire Mill Café experience. Some are responsible for preparing the ingredients in the kitchen, others for the actual cooking and baking, or arranging the food on the plates. At the till, you will meet students who have a flair for serving guests at the café tables and who maybe dream of becoming waiters. Finally, some of the students make sure that the café looks presentable for guests. They lay the tables with tablecloths, napkins, cutlery and impressive floral decorations, making sure the place is always a charming place to visit. The Kilden Foundation firmly believe that guests in the Mill Café should expect the same professionalism as in any other café – and that is what we deliver.
Communal meals – refectory table dinners with diversity
Six times a year, in collaboration with Esrum Abbey & Møllegård, the Kilden Foundation invites guests for a communal meal. The young people from Kilden prepare everything for the meal. They lay the beautiful refectory tables, cook the food, and plate and serve it for all the diners. The food reflects the season, and most of the produce is organic.
A meaningful collaboration
“At Kilden, we are very pleased with the collaboration with Esrum Kloster and Møllegård, which is reflected in the lease of the Møllecaféen. Here, the young people acquire many skills that they can use in their future careers: Good hospitality, customer service, food preparation, serving and much more.”
Dorte Meldgaard, CEO, Kilden Foundation
