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Children's right to education and leisure

Erikshjälpen works for children's right to education and leisure. Over 260 million children worldwide lack education, even though it is the right of all children. We ensure that more children get to go to school and have the opportunity for a safe and rewarding leisure time.

Why training is important

Going to school gives children self-esteem, knowledge and confidence - factors that are crucial in the fight against poverty. Education gives children the opportunity to influence their own lives and future. That's why it's important that all children have equal opportunities to go to school.

It should not matter whether you are a boy or a girl, where you live, what your ethnicity is, whether you have any kind of disability or what your economic circumstances are. All children have the right to a future where their dreams come true.

We work broadly for the right to education of all children

The majority of children denied the right to go to school are girls. This is often due to traditional gender attitudes and values, which mean that girls are more likely to stay at home to help in the household or work, or be forced to marry and become mothers at an early age. We are fighting to change these attitudes and raise awareness of the importance of girls' education so that more girls can stay in school.

It is not only girls who are denied the right to education. Children with disabilities, from minority groups and poor areas are also discriminated against. That's why we work widely with different types of interventions to influence and find the source of the problem, and let children themselves be part of the solution.

How we work with education and leisure

We influence those in power in countries and regions where we work to hold them accountable and ensure that all children, regardless of gender, economic situation or geographical location, have the same opportunities for schooling.
We work to strengthen families' finances so that children are not forced to work instead of going to school. This is done by looking at the whole family situation and ensuring opportunities for regular income.
We set up portable schools in places affected by extreme weather or where the route to the nearest school is too long and difficult.
We inform parents about why education is important for children and change attitudes about education by educating and informing children, parents, teachers, religious leaders and local government officials about the importance of education.