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.

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

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)

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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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.

The Earthshot Prize was established in 2020 by Prince William and the Earthshot Foundation with the aim of finding, highlighting and scaling up the most effective solutions to our planet's biggest challenges.
Often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of the environmental world', the prize is awarded to projects that can make a real difference to climate, nature and society. The fact that Friendship is now a winner shows that their work is making a real difference on a global scale.

Climate adaptation that saves lives

Friendship works in some of the world's most vulnerable areas along Bangladesh's rivers and coastal areas, where climate change is already dramatically affecting people's lives. The organization develops local and long-term solutions that make communities more resilient to floods, erosion and cyclones.

Among Friendship's interventions are:

• portable schools - modular schools that can be dismantled and moved when the land is flooded.
• Replanting mangrove forests to protect the coast from erosion and storms.
• Elevated housing, schools and health centers that can withstand rising water levels.
• Floating hospitals and mobile clinics that reach people in remote areas.
• Education, health and livelihood support for millions of people every year.

Erikshjälpen is on the journey

Erikshjälpen is a proud partner of Friendship and supports their projects through our Regional offices in Bangladesh. Together we work to strengthen local communities and protect children's rights.

With the Earthshot Award comes international attention and new resources that will allow Friendship to scale up its climate solutions and reach even more people. Erikshjälpen will continue to be a close partner in this work - and together we will continue to fight for a just and sustainable future.

The large room in the activity center Kulturhuset Agora in Skäggetorp is filled with laughter, music and movement. Children and parents drum together with joy and enthusiasm. When the music stops, one of the participants says:

- We needed this! The stress disappears. It's so nice to just be who you are.

After the djembe drums, the evening continues with the children relaxing with fairy tale reading and the adults gathering for a chat. Several parents describe that it feels good not to be alone.

What is Parental Power?

Parental Power is a new project within Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad, which is currently available in six locations in Sweden. Earlier this fall, Erikshjälpen received 11.3 million Swedish kronor (SEK) from the Postcode Lottery to start and run the project for four years.

The aim is to empower parents to support their children in the challenges they face at school and in life. During parent meetings, participants exchange experiences, but also learn more about how society works and how they can support their children.

- Parents are the most important people in children's lives. We want to give them the strength and courage to grow," says Chrysanthi, also known as Chrissa. "There are many parent-strengthening interventions in the municipality, but we feel that far too few take advantage of them.

Skäggetorp Family - children and adults create together

Many parents in Skäggetorp are foreign-born and have lived in Sweden for different lengths of time. Being a parent in a new country can be a big challenge - you need to learn a new language, a new culture and understand the rules of society.

- "Many people want so much but need support and safe meeting places to dare to be involved," says Chrissa.

In the Skäggetorp Family activity in Linköping, families get to create something together. At the first meeting they were asked to introduce themselves. The children took the initiative and were keen to talk, while some of the parents stood in the background.

- The children often have a better command of the Swedish language, but when we encouraged the parents to dare to participate, it became a nice moment for everyone, says Chrissa. "It's important to find a balance where both children and adults are given space.

"Here I can speak Swedish and meet other mothers"

Ruun is from Somalia and has lived in Sweden for five years. She participates in Skäggetorp Family with her children Geedi and Madhi.

- I wanted my children to make friends - and me too. Here I can meet other parents, but also speak Swedish and listen to others speak," says Ruun.

Geedi and Madhi are involved in several of Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad's activities such as homework and various leisure activities. Ruun is often with them, but always feels safe even when the children are at the Future Workshop themselves.

Towards the future

The goal of Föräldrakraft is for more parents to feel safe, engaged and involved - both at home and in society. During the project period, Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad will establish meeting places and platforms for children and parents, and the plan is for the work to become an important part of Erikshjälpen's regular activities in the future.

In Skäggetorp there is a strong will to cooperate. Many different actors are working towards the same goal - to support families and create security in the area. The community has confirmed that Föräldrakraft is really needed, and the commitment is great.

- "As parents grow, children grow too," says Chrissa. "We believe that when each family member takes responsibility for their role, there is a balance - children can be children, focus on school and grow at their own pace.

The work of supporting children and young people is intended to take place in close collaboration with the municipality's activities, housing in the area and the local Erikshjälpen Second Hand in Halmstad. Work is now starting on recruiting two activities coordinators and a labor market coordinator to run the business.

- Their first task will be to build relationships with various actors and residents in the Linehed area. This is to find out how Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad can best meet the needs of the area and complement other interventions, says Jonatan Saldner, acting program manager at Erikshjälpen's Sweden department.

The aim is for the Future Workshop to open before the end of the year.

A long-term investment

Erikshjälpen has long been in dialog with the Ljungbergska Foundation about a deeper collaboration. This support now makes the start-up in Halmstad possible.

- When children are given the opportunity to influence their everyday lives, not only their future but that of the whole community grows. We are convinced that Erikshjälpen, in close collaboration with the municipality, the business community and other existing actors, will be a good addition to the work of enabling long-term sustainable change for children and young people in Halmstad," writes Ljungbergska Stiftelsen in a statement.

Focus on children's rights

The work in the Future Workshops is always based on children's rights. In the activities, it is the children themselves who will decide what activities they want and what issues are important for them to pursue. This gives them the power to change their neighborhood, build self-confidence and eventually follow their dreams.

The impact of housing segregation and exclusion on young people is an ongoing issue. Everyone agrees that we need to do more and reverse the trend, but are we doing enough to engage young people themselves in the solution?

Young people from Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad have prepared both content and message for our upcoming seminar in Almedalen. The young people are speakers, panelists and have had an active role in the planning, not only as "inspiration", but as expertise to challenge the image of the suburbs.

Young people working together for solutions to societal problems

Before the seminar, the young people participated in workshops where they discussed the challenges they see in society, based on their everyday lives and experiences. They also shared their solutions and what they would like to send to politicians and decision-makers.

We give young people a platform at Almedalen

We see youth participation as a natural part of our work for children's rights. Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad exists to give children and young people the opportunity to create positive change for themselves and others based on needs, interests and dreams. Through leisure activities, study support and training in leadership and children's rights, young people are given the opportunity to develop their voice and to influence.

The seminar in Almedalen is a clear example of how the Convention on the Rights of the Child becomes a reality - young people are given both space and power to influence.

- "We want young people to feel that their experiences and opinions matter," says Jonatan Saldner, Head of Erikshjälpen Sweden. "Only then can we really talk about participation and sustainable community development.