Between December 12 and 18, Swedish Radio organizes Musikhjälpen, and this year’s fundraiser aims to create a safer childhood for children fleeing war. This spring, we welcomed our second child, and reading that an estimated 1.5 million children were born to mothers on the run between 2017 and 2021, and that today 42 million children are displaced, breaks my mother’s heart. When I see my children and how they grow, I cannot understand how adults can expose any child to violence, child labor, child marriage, human trafficking, or any other abuse. They shouldn’t even have to witness any form of violence. Every child has the right to a safe upbringing, food, water, medicine, and education. We all live together on planet Earth, and where we are born and how our lives unfold is a terribly unfair lottery. Here in Sweden, we have been fortunate and privileged not to have experienced war in recent generations. Therefore, it is our duty to help those who flee, especially the children who bear no responsibility for how the world has developed. 42 million children are displaced! 42 million children! To raise awareness of this, I have created a unique piece of jewelry so that the winner of the auction can continue the conversation even after Musikhjälpen ends. The jewelry is meant to spark reactions that open up dialogue about the children’s situation in the refugee crisis. Those who wear the piece should feel proud of their commitment and their desire to help these children toward a safer life.

How your contribution to Musikhjälpen can make a difference

Donations to Musikhjälpen 2022 will go toward increasing safety and improving the lives of children and young people under 18 living in ongoing refugee situations worldwide. This may involve giving more children the opportunity to attend school, for example by setting up temporary schools or providing teaching materials. Learning to count, read, and write is crucial for children’s future prospects. Attending school gives meaning and increases safety, including reducing the risk of child labor. Contributions to this year’s fundraiser can also help create child-friendly spaces in refugee camps where children can receive psychosocial support and talk about difficult experiences, or simply play and have fun for a while. Children can also get help finding relatives they have been separated from. Donations can also support efforts to strengthen the physical and mental health of children on the run, through care and vaccinations, for example. It can also involve securing access to clean water, nutritious food, and toilets.