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.

The earthquake, which consisted of two tremors, mainly affected the regions around the city of Mandalay in central Myanmar. Over 2,000 people have died and more than 30,000 have been injured. In addition, around 3,000 people are estimated to be trapped under collapsed buildings.

- Many families have lost their homes and lack access to clean water. The situation is exacerbated by the humanitarian crisis in the country following years of internal conflict and refugee disasters. Although Erikshjälpen was quick to respond, there is still an urgent need for further assistance to address the crisis," says Rathy Chheng, Program Coordinator at Erikshjälpen's Regional offices in Southeast Asia.

In addition to homes and schools, key infrastructure such as airports, highways and bridges have been completely destroyed in the affected regions. Damage to dams in Pyin Ma Nar resulted in severe flooding and a major fire in Mandalay destroyed 50 homes. In total, 7.6 million people in Myanmar are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

- Children and families are the hardest hit. Many are displaced and living in difficult conditions without adequate protection from weather and health hazards. Children can no longer go to school because schools have been destroyed and they lack a safe place to recover from traumatic experiences. The psychological strain is enormous and families are struggling every day to cope with loss, uncertainty and just trying to survive," said Rathy Chheng.

The importance of long-term interventions

- Our efforts focus on on emergency shelter, food, clean water and medical care. We are also prioritizing the safety of affected children to protect them from exploitation and further trauma. In addition, long-term interventions are crucial to rebuild homes, schools and essential community infrastructure and thus giving hope back to affected families," says Rathy Chheng.

- "The need for parental support is something we often encounter in contact with our young people in Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad," says Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General of Erikshjälpen. "Through Föräldrakraft, we now finally have the resources to interact with parents as well.

Every year, the Swedish Postcode Lottery's surplus is distributed to the non-profit organisations it works with. By far the largest part of this is unearmarked money, known as basic support. But in addition to the basic support, there are the Dream Projects. A Dream Project always has a specific focus, such as one of the UN's global sustainability goals.

Want to contribute to safe families

Erikshjälpen's dream with the four-year project "Parental Power" is to contribute to safe and stable families. No matter where you live, parents should be able to support their children in the challenges they face in school and life.

A secure start lays the foundation for a lifetime, and caregivers play a crucial role in children's development and life choices. Good family relationships create better conditions for children to cope with adversity and reduce the risks of falling into exclusion, crime, destructive environments and abuse.
- "It is important to meet with other parents and exchange thoughts and ideas about family life and how to be a good parent," says a mother from a parent group in Motala.

Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad is currently located in Motala, Helsingborg, Linköping, Borlänge, Uppsala and Kristianstad. The work includes giving young people tools to influence and create positive change for themselves and their neighborhoods. With Föräldrakraft, interventions are also aimed at inspiring active parenting and strengthening family relationships.

- With many years of experience working for children's rights in different countries, we know that one of the best ways to help children is to support their parents," says Mattias Ingesson.

Building bridges between parents and the community

Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad sometimes meets parents who express a lack of confidence in their own abilities and who find it difficult to reconcile present parenting with challenges linked to finances and working conditions. Distrust of authorities can be great, so Erikshjälpen wants to act as a bridge builder to various agencies in society in addition to parent-strengthening measures. In this way, public resources and interventions can be made available to many more people.

Erikshjälpen will also develop meeting places in each location for inspiration, commitment and exchange of experience.
- "Erikshjälpen now has the opportunity to develop an existing business with new perspectives. It is important and urgent," says Anders Årbrandt, Managing Director of the Swedish Postcode Lottery.

February 24 marks the start of the fourth year of war in Ukraine. Russian attacks continue to cause fear and insecurity for children. Recently, there has been talk of a potential peace in which the US would negotiate with Russia. But there are many concerns about what such a peace could mean. What is clear is that even if the bombs stopped falling tomorrow, the children of Ukraine still have a huge need.

Since the beginning of the warn 2022, Erikshjälpen has been on the ground in Ukraine. Part of our work includes material support and emergency aid, but also psychosocial support to give children safe places in the chaos. The psychosocial support serves as anshelter from the war. Children are given a place to play and be creative as a way to process what they have been through. Quite simply, a place where they can be children. This is work that must not stop just because peace is in place.

New partner organizations

To strengthen the work in the country, Erikshjälpen has started working with three new organisations on the ground in Ukraine.

Erikshjälpen has previously cooperated with the organization Women Consortium of Ukraine (WCU). The organization has extensive experience in humanitarian interventions, both before and after Russia's full-scale invasion. WCUU supports families with children with cash, food, hygiene items, legal assistance and psychosocial support. Now theoperations in the country have been expanded with three new organisations.

- When the new Social Services Act comes into force next year, it will be crucial that we intensify work on preventive interventions for children and young people, said Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. For this we neede need a strong civil society that can build bridges and contribute with its resources and knowledge.

During the Children's Rights Conference at Jönköping University, around 300 participants from schools, social services, health care and the non-profit sector gathered to discuss how child participation can be strengthened. Through lectures and panel discussions, they discussed how adults can become better at including children in important decisions.

- "Every day, Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad meets committed children and young people who want to be involved in the development of society," says Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General of Erikshjälpen. "But society needs to create structures where children's voices are taken seriously and have a real impact.

In one of the panel discussions, socialtMinister for Social Affairs Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Police Commissioner Carin Götblad and Jönköping County Governor Brittis Benzler. They shared their perspectives on child participation and were questioned by young people from Vetlanda Youth Council and Underground Råslätt.

- As a as a minister, it is obviously important to listen to children's voices if you are to drive credible changee, said Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

The day included lectures and seminars on children's rights and how adults can work to ensure that children are heard and taken seriously in decisions that affect their daily lives. By bringing together experts, politicians, civil servants and young people, the conference is an important platform for promoting children's rights work both in the region and nationally.