Students turn abandoned items into charity
In the basement of Jacob Lehmann’s student housing, several storerooms have been transformed into a second-hand store. In rooms filled with everything from bedsheets and towels to Christmas decorations and teapots, volunteers sort items into piles. The idea formed when Jacob himself moved to Uppsala and noticed how complicated it was to gather everything needed to live here.
– When I arrived here it was annoying to go all across the city of Uppsala to find things for my room. My mom then asked me why I couldn’t buy it from former students, and then I had this idea. We discussed in our corridor kitchen how we can leave stuff behind for future generations of students, he says.
Co-founding member Lenka Benková, 24, lived in the same corridor. There, she heard about the project and has volunteered since.
When Jacob had this idea, he figured that donating the money would motivate people to donate their things. Thus, all money earned is given to Barncancerfonden and RBU, and so far Rackis for Barn has donated over 95 000 kr.
When new students come and leave, the group is at their busiest. But the board members spend time on the project daily. With increased marketing the project has grown a lot:
– It has increased this semester, secretary and head of marketing Lea Poewe, 27, says.
– Both management- and size-wise.
– We are trying to divide our assignments better, so everyone can do what their strength is, continues Elias Foppa, 21, vice president.
– Every day looks different.
Today, they also have on-going cooperations with both Uppsala University and Uppsalahem.
– It shows how much we’ve grown as an organization, Elias says.
The project makes the process of moving in more flexible. For new exchange students it offers an easier start – now you can find the most essential without having to walk too far, carry too much or buy everything new and expensive.
– Often, students coming to Uppsala don’t know about the popular second-hand selling platforms like Blocket or Facebook Marketplace, Lea tells Ergo. Jacob adds that Rackis for Barn is also more convenient for international students, who often do not have swish, since they accept card payments as well.
Although the project mainly targets international students, everyone is welcome to shop, give and volunteer. They do, however, appreciate it if you get in touch beforehand.
With time, Rackis for Barn has become a cycle: students arrive in Uppsala, buy what they need, and when they leave, they return those same items. In that way, the items continue to circulate and find new owners over and over again.
When asked what the best part of Rackis for Barn is, the group agrees on three things: helping students, supporting charity and reducing waste.
– Every aspect has its win, Jacob says.
As our conversation comes to an end, it’s clear that Rackis for Barn has already made a meaningful impact during its one and a half years of existence. And for Jacob, the journey might not be over just yet, since he can see himself staying in Uppsala and continuing to develop the project.
