Celebrate ERIK's day us on Saturday, April 25, at any of our secondhand stores. It will be a day filled with joy, community, and bargains that make a difference. All proceeds from each store’s daily sales will go toward Erikshjälpen’s work to give children a better future.
On Saturday, April 25, we’ll be celebrating ERIK's day our secondhand stores across the country. It’s a day when we honor the memory of our founder, Erik Nilsson—and at the same time make a real difference for children around the world. Every day, our stores’ surplus go surplus children’s rights. But on ERIK's day , all proceeds from the day’s sales ERIK's day to Erikshjälpen’s work for children’s rights.
A festive day filled with activities, refreshments, and great finds
Many stores will be offering a festive atmosphere with activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy face painting, crafts, contests, and delicious treats, for example. It will be a day filled with joy, togetherness, and great finds.
That's why we celebrate ERIK's day
ERIK's day annually in memory of Erik Nilsson, the boy who laid the foundation for Erikshjälpen. Despite his own illness, Erik chose to bring hope to other children. This commitment is carried on today by people throughout the country and even internationally.
Erikshjälpen is celebrating its 80th anniversary
This year’s Eriksdag takes on a special significance as Erikshjälpen celebrates its 80th anniversary. The anniversary commemorates a journey that began with one young person’s desire to help and has grown into one of Sweden’s largest children’s rights organizations.
Erik Nilsson, 16 years old.
Erik Nilsson is playing with children at the hospital.
Erik Nilsson, 16 years old.
Erik Nilsson is playing with children at the hospital.
How Erikshjälpen Works to Promote Children's Rights
Today, Erikshjälpen works toward long-term goals to strengthen children’s rights in 16 countries, with a focus on areas such as education, health, safety, and protection. In Sweden, we work to ensure that all children have the right to equal and safe conditions in which to grow up.
Erikshjälpen Second Hand a crucial role in this work. The stores help fund our children’s rights initiatives. They also foster a sense of community, provide job training, and open new pathways into the workforce for people who are far removed from the job market. And by focusing our efforts specifically on parents and guardians, we improve the future prospects for many children and young people.
Celebrate with us and shop for the kids
So come celebrate ERIK's day us. Find great deals, socialize, and support Erikshjälpen’s work for children’s rights. When you shop during ERIK's day helping to give children a better future.
On Thursday, May 26, 2026, Erikshjälpen’s seventh Future Workshop was inaugurated. The new community center in the Linehed neighborhood is designed to provide children, young people, and families with a safe place for support, fellowship, and activities.
With an open house, cake, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad in Linehed, Halmstad.
“We want to create a sense of an extended living room here—a safe place where children and young people are met by someone who believes in them and where they can feel that the future belongs to them,” says program coordinator Yasemin Celik.
We want to create a sense of an extended living room here.
Karin Tengnäs and Yasemin Celik, program coordinators at Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad, cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony.
Mikael Elveroth and Ingrid Gustavsson from the Ljungberg Foundation.
Karin Tengnäs and Yasemin Celik, program coordinators at Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad, cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony.
Mikael Elveroth and Ingrid Gustavsson from the Ljungberg Foundation.
No Future Workshop without collaboration
Several of Erikshjälpen’s key partners were in attendance at the opening ceremony. Representatives from the City of Halmstad, civil society, and the housing company HFAB were given a tour of the new facility.
The initiative in Linehed has been made possible with support from the Ljungbergska Foundation and will be carried out in collaboration with several local partners. Plans are already underway for a number of activities, in partnership with HFAB and others, to engage children and young people in the area.
“Halmstad should be a safe municipality with a strong sense of community,” says Anna Wallefors, Deputy Municipal Director of Halmstad Municipality. “Collaboration with civil society is key to our success, and we are convinced that Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad contribute to this.”
Collaboration with civil society is key to success.
A place for support, community, and growth
The Future Workshop in Halmstad is intended to be a safe place where young people can grow both individually and together with others. Children and young people have a say in deciding which activities are offered and which issues are important to address.
The Future Workshop will also serve as a gathering place for the whole family. The goal is to strengthen parenting and contribute to positive development throughout the area.
The program is led by Yasemin Celik and Karin Tengnäs, who both have experience in social work with young people and parents, as well as in children’s rights.
“We complement each other very well, both in our preventive and promotional efforts,” says Karin.
Jonatan Saldner, Karin Tengnäs, Jannica Johansson, Yasemin Celik, Björn Mikmar.
Jonatan Saldner, Karin Tengnäs, Jannica Johansson, Yasemin Celik, Björn Mikmar.
In close collaboration with Erikshjälpen Second Hand
The idea is for Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad serve as a bridge between families, civil society, and the workforce—and to create new opportunities for those who are excluded from the labor market.
That is why a key part of the initiative is the partnership with the local Erikshjälpen Second Hand. Jannica Johansson, employment coordinator for Framtidsverkstaden, has her office in the store. From there, she will help young people and parents get closer to the workforce through job training and networking, among other things.
“We hope to play a key role in the municipality’s efforts to support young people who are unemployed while transitioning from school to work, and to create new paths forward,” says Jannica Johansson.
For a future with equal opportunities for all
Karin and Yasemin are now looking forward to meeting children, young people, and parents in Linehed. One of the first activities being organized is a study workshop in collaboration with the Red Cross and the Halmstad parish. A resume workshop is also being organized to help young people take steps toward entering the workforce. And on April 11, a community fair will be held in Linehed Park where local organizations can present their activities and inspire more people to get involved in community life.
“The Future Workshop is meant to be a place where young people feel included, where more of them can find paths to further education or employment. We want to support and guide both young people and parents toward the right kind of support and opportunities,” says Karin.
Karin and Yasemin hope that Framtidsverkstaden will become an integral part of Linehed. The initiative is intended to be a key component in the effort to promote equal opportunities for children and young people and to strengthen their prospects in the area.
Author: Lena Elf
Photographer: Lena Elf
Through his Instagram account Gubbstil, Erik Östling has inspired thousands of followers to discover a timeless style of clothing and the joy of shopping second-hand. He has now been named Sweden's Second-Hand Profile 2026 by Erikshjälpen Second Hand.
"It feels really exciting, of course, but also a little surreal. I'm very happy that I'm getting people in general, and men in particular, interested in second-hand clothing. It's about sustainability, of course, but also about how powerful it is to have garments with a history," says Erik.
A year ago, Erik Östling started the Instagram account Gubbstil, which now has over 80,000 followers. He shares his passion for classic men's fashion, second-hand clothing, and how to care for your clothes so they last. With curiosity and humor, he shows how a more thoughtful style can be both stylish and personal.
– Gubbstil is not an ironic project; I am one hundred percent honest. It is my search for authenticity. An attempt to normalize slow choices, well-cared-for garments, and create a more relaxed relationship with clothing.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
What is old man style?
A large part of Erik's Instagram feed consists of spontaneous snapshots that he takes himself. Always with the same motif – stylish older men. Mostly older men he encounters in passing in everyday life, such as when he cycles to work or is out for a run.
– My dream is to create a world the way old men think. To me, an old man is someone who makes conscious and sustainable choices.
At the same time, he is aware that the concept can be misunderstood. Old man style can be considered classic and correct—but also very boring if you don't find your own interpretation. Being inspired by classic style without looking dressed up requires balance. Erik himself styles his garments with a modern touch. That's when it becomes timeless instead of just old-fashioned.
To me, an old man is someone who makes conscious and sustainable choices.
When my mother sewed, my interest in style grew
Erik's interest in clothing began at an early age. Growing up, his mother sewed the family's clothes.
"I almost always chose the craziest fabric," he laughs. But I remember it as something positive, and it sparked something in me. I've always been involved in creative projects that stand out, that are different.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
Erik Östling. Photo: Ronja Fagré.
Erik's tips for finding bargains in second-hand stores
Erik's best advice for finding bargains in second-hand clothing is to plan your visits and visit your local second-hand store regularly.
"Ultimately, it's about searching," he says. If there's one thing second-hand shopping teaches you, it's patience. Write a list of what you actually need and visit your local store regularly. Sooner or later, the right garment will turn up, in the right size.
Sweden's Second Hand Profile 2026
Erik has become an inspiring role model for those who want to find their own style. By emphasizing quality, craftsmanship, and longevity, he encourages more people to choose classic garments that can be loved and worn again and again.
"Erik does a fantastic job of giving conscious old-school style the attention it deserves, and we want to praise him for that," says Josefine Janossy, marketing and concept manager at Erikshjälpen Second Hand.
The proceeds will be donated to Erikshjälpen's work in Ukraine.
As the winner of Sweden's Second Hand Profile 2026, Erik has the opportunity to donate 25,000 Swedish kronor (SEK) one of Erikshjälpen's interventions children's rights. Erik has chosen to support children and families in Ukraine.
– It was very difficult to choose. But the situation in Ukraine feels very urgent; these are children in their most formative years, and this is a direct threat that will affect the rest of their lives, says Erik.
The jury's reasoning
In just one year, Erik Östling has created a warm and inclusive space for anyone who appreciates style, quality, and the joy of caring for old garments. Through his Gubbstil account, he has built a community where sustainability, clothing care, and secondhand shopping are natural parts of the conversation.
Erik is a breath of fresh air in an industry where men's voices are few and far between. He makes second-hand clothing accessible, de-dramatized, and appealing to new target groups. By emphasizing quality over short-lived trends, he inspires more people to choose garments that will stand the test of time and be loved for decades.
About the Swedish Second Hand Profile award
Every year, Erikshjälpen Second Hand awards the Swedish Second Hand Profile to someone who, through their commitment, contributes to an increased interest in second hand and its possibilities. It can be about innovative ideas, creative solutions or smart environmental work through reuse.
The recipient of the "Sweden's Second-Hand Personality" award will receive a certificate and a statuette, as well as the right to donate the equivalent of 25,000 Swedish kronor (SEK) to one of Erikshjälpen's interventions children's rights.
Ukraine is currently experiencing its coldest winter in several years. To meet the urgent needs, Erikshjälpen and Radiohjälpen have launched a new initiative to help families cope with the cold.
It has been four years since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The situation remains serious. Today, there are 3.8 million internally displaced persons in the country. Since February 2022, 745 children have been killed and over 2,300 injured, according to the UN.
Cold weather exacerbates situation in Ukraine
The winter of 2025–2026 has proven to be one of the most challenging periods since the start of the war. Families lack warmth and security due to destroyed homes and disrupted infrastructure such as electricity and water supplies. In Kiev, entire neighborhoods have been forced to endure temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius without the ability to heat their homes.
The harsh winter creates more than just material needs. Parents worry about keeping their children warm, and entire communities live in constant anxiety about how they will survive the winter. The combination of extreme cold and energy shortages increases psychological stress and leaves many in urgent need of both warmth and supplies, as well as psychosocial support.
Car wrecks and destroyed houses in a suburb of Kiev. Photo: Bengt Sigvardsson.
Apartment buildings destroyed by Russian air strikes. Photo: Bengt Sigvardsson.
Car wrecks and destroyed houses in a suburb of Kiev. Photo: Bengt Sigvardsson.
Apartment buildings destroyed by Russian air strikes. Photo: Bengt Sigvardsson.
Erikshjälpen's efforts against the cold
Erikshjälpen, together with Radiohjälpen, has launched an extra initiative to alleviate the worst of the suffering. The initiative has a total budget of Swedish kronor (SEK) 3.3 million Swedish kronor (SEK) is being implemented in ten regions in Ukraine.
This will be distributed:
- blankets
- warm clothes
- food
- thermoses
- LED lights
- heating fans
To enable children to continue their education, we distribute power banks that allow them to charge their phones and computers for distance learning.
Portable power stations are distributed to families with children with disabilities. They provide basic lighting, keep the internet running, and enable necessary assistive devices to be charged.
Support Erikshjälpen's work in Ukraine
With your donation, we can provide warmth, food, winter clothing, emergency supplies, and psychological support to children and families in war-torn Ukraine.
Give a gift
On Wednesday, December 10, a seminar was held in the Swedish Parliament on how Sweden can strengthen children's rights in a rapidly changing aid landscape. The roundtable discussion was organized by the Parliamentary Network for International Children's Rights Issues.
During the seminar on the theme "Two years of the reform agenda – what has happened and how do we move forward? Erikshjälpen's Secretary-General Ingeson highlighted the organization's work in Bangladesh. This is a long-term effort in which children themselves participate in disaster risk management, among other things. By showing how children can be active agents of change, Erikshjälpen wants to emphasize that investing in children leads to both safer societies and sustainable development.
When children are given the opportunity to influence their own everyday lives and local communities, lasting change is created.
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
Children are hardest hit – and should be the focus of aid efforts
Children are the ones most affected by war, climate crises, and growing inequality. At the same time, children's rights are being pushed back globally. During the seminar, it was emphasized that Sweden has long been a leading voice for children's rights—and that this role is now more important than ever.
The government's reform agenda contains clear statements on children's rights, but children's rights organizations emphasized the need for this to have a greater impact in both thematic and geographical aid strategies.
Important issues discussed
During the seminar, issues such as the following were discussed:
- The current state of children's rights globally
- How children's rights can be strengthened when aid is reformed
- The importance of international commitments and strong multilateral cooperation
- The link between children's rights and investments in education, gender equality, and climate action
- How child participation be ensured in practical social work
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
©UNICEF/Anton Brunnberg
Unified voices for stronger Swedish leadership
Participants included representatives from several parliamentary parties and children's rights organizations, including:
- Gudrun Brunegård (Christian Democrats)
- Olle Thorell (S)
- Åsa Regnér (Save the Children)
- Mattias Ingeson (Erikshjälpen)
- Monica Lorensson (Plan)
- Karin Strömstedt (UNICEF)
- Yasmine Ericsson (SD)
- Carina Ödebrink (S)
- Pernilla Baralt (UNICEF)
Putting children at the center was seen as one of the most long-term and powerful investments Sweden could make.
The discussion clearly showed that there is both a willingness and opportunities to strengthen children's rights in Swedish development cooperation. Putting children at the center was seen as one of the most long-term and powerful investments Sweden can make.
Lena Elf
Press officer
This year's theme for Musikhjälpen in Karlstad was "All children have the right to go to school." Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General Erikshjälpen, visited the glass cage and talked about the children's rights organization's work on the climate-vulnerable sand islands in northern Bangladesh.
"Before this project, there were no schools on these islands. Together with Friendship, we are working with portable , which can be dismantled when the water starts to rise and then reassembled in a new, safe location just a day or two later," explains Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General Erikshjälpen.
Innorthern Bangladesh, in the Jamuna River delta, people live on sand islands. The islands are unstable and prone to recurring floods and other natural disasters. This has made it impossible to establish infrastructure or school buildings. Since 2006, Erikshjälpen has been working with the organization Friendship in Bangladesh to enable children to attend school despite the climate disasters that constantly threaten the country. portable allow children to continue their education even when floods threaten.
Children are agents of change themselves, if only they are given the opportunity.
A safe place and an opportunity for a better life
Going to school means so much more than just getting an education. It is particularly important for girls, many of whom risk being married off if they do not attend school. However, many girls face obstacles that prevent them from attending classes. The journey to school can be long and dangerous, and the lack of toilets and opportunities for good hygiene during menstruation can mean that they prefer to stay at home.
“An important part of our work is to tell children about their rights,” says Mattias Ingeson. We set up children’s clubs and committees where, in addition to learning about disaster preparedness, they also learn that they have certain rights, such as the right to go to school. Children are agents of change themselves, if only they are given the chance.
portable are one of our interventions strengthen children's right to education,health, safety, and protection innorthern Bangladesh. Onthe page Portable school – from dismantling to rebuilding, you can read about how to move a school.
Learn more about portable
For children and young people to trust society, society also needs to trust them. This was the main message when around 300 people gathered at Jönköping University on Children's Convention Day.
"We are here. We care. Take us seriously." This is how the young people expressed their message. They had planned and created this year's Children's Rights Conference themselves, and their voices were at the center of the day.
The theme of this year's Children's Rights Conference was Trust and the Rights of the Child in a Changing World. The day explored what makes young people trust adults - and what can cause trust to break down. What made the conference special was that the young people themselves had decided the theme, made the program and led the discussions.
- You adults say you know what it's like to be young, because you've been young. I don't mean to sound harsh, but the problem is that you don't know what it's like now. But your children do, so ask them what it's like," said Zeina Kifo from Öxnehaga in Jönköping.
Research, conversations and personal stories
The Children's Rights Conference featured current research and personal stories. Researcher Stephanie Plenty presented new findings from a major study on young people's democratic engagement. Young people then participated in a panel discussion with, among others, Evin Cetin, founder of SAO jobs (a form of employment for secondary school students aged 14).
Two-time speaker of the year Charbel Gabro gave a talk on how people from different backgrounds can understand each other better. Marx Mukuru and Nasir Sarr, winners of the 'Local Poet of the Year' award, performed texts about injustice and what it can feel like to grow up in today's society.
I hope that those of you who are here will take this with you to your organizations. It doesn't have to be a big conference, but just create discussions.
A meeting place for important conversations
Child rights issues concern many professionals. The conference brought together adults working in, for example, schools, social services, health care or the non-profit sector. This made the day an important platform to talk about children's rights - both in the region and in Sweden.
- "I hope that those of you who are here will take this with you to your businesses. It doesn't have to be a big conference, but just create discussions," says Minda Ranerås, 19 years old from Tenhult.
Conference on the Rights of the Child 2025
The children's rights conference was organized by the focus group on children's rights in Jönköping County, in collaboration with Save the Children, RF-Sisu, Erikshjälpen, Women's and Girls' Shelter, Share Music and Performing Arts, Region Jönköping County, Municipal Development, Jönköping University, Jönköping Municipality, Vetlanda Municipality and the County Administrative Board of Jönköping County.
Tip: Listen to the interview with some of the young people in P4 Jönköping.
Listening 