Support 100 Care leavers in India

Young adults who have grownup in Child Crae Institution (CCI) or other alternative care arrangement (Institutional and non-institutional care arragemnet) have left from the care arragemnet attain 18 years need guidance and support in their transition period. In this aftercare programme they can realize and enable them to become an independent and mainstreamed in the society. Aftercare programme enable them to achieve social and life skills systematically which lead them to self reliance and mainstreaming in the society. This process enable such young adults to adapt themselves to society and to encourage them to move away from institution life to an independent living. Life skill Education is giving frequently to the care leavers to enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.It helps to the care leavers in confidence to take decisions, communicate effectively with others and developing their skills and manage themselves to build a perfect life in the society. YCDA giving frequent training to care leavers on life skills, career counselling, psycho social support to make them cofident, self reliant and job placement. They can also learn problem solving, learning accountibility, financial literacy. Career guidance supports them to manage their caeer and get a good career path. Young adult after the age of 18years not only have the responsibility of the society but they are very much responsible for their personal growth and development. Personal deveopment helps them to set a goal for thir life. Their confidence level increase towards their career development. They are the changemakers. In that stage young adults build their social relationships, career path, and be a proactive person. A Story on an Independent Life….. Hii … I belongs to a poor family where my parents were daily wage labourer . after my father’s death & my sent me to the Child Care Institution (CCI). I grew up in CCI. I was going to school there. During covid pandemic, I came back to my home with the knowledge of Child Welfare Committee and YCDA. . Now I am with my mother. She is working as a daily labour. YCDA Counsellor came to me in regular basis and helped me in preparing career planning as per my choices and interest. I was studying then she enrolled me in dress making trade in Vocational education and supported me . I got training on life skills, career counseling. I am very much happy that now I have completed my training and got support of a machine for my earning .Now, I am a self employed careleavers and sustained by life through my earning of rs 6000 per month. Me & my mother are living happily . Thank you GlobalGiving & Supporters for the generosity.

• Report of Care Leavers in India (PDF)
  

Youth are the strongest weapon of the nation. They are very energetic and enthusiastic to learn and act to achieve their goal. A care Leaver is a young adult who has spent his/her life in a residential care in Child Care Institution or any other care arrangement ( Foster care or Kinship care) and leaving at the age of 18 year. Leaving residential care, they start their life for themselves. Once they leave care institution, they need support in career mapping and financial support to achieve their aspiration.

This period is very difficult time for many care leavers after leaving care setting. Get a good job, good salary, good shelter and continuation of support. It’s a transition time from school to further higher education and employment. It’s also a transition period from childhood dependency to adulthood responsibility person in society. YCDA giving periodically Life Skill Training to deal the root causes of problem faced by the care leavers to empower them confidently into independent lives, career Counceslling for their higher education. We are also giving psychosocial support to avoid the critical period of vulnerability and to address the issues of risk during this period.

Young adults require a combination of cognitive and social skills to tackle their problems, and prepare for future challenges.

We have given them skill development training to care leavers to empower them by providing different training for sustainable livelihood that lead to economic independence.

So a strong friendship network is needed for a good life skills and social skills in promoting positive wellbeing after residential care. Leaving care services can help young people in developing relationships and building self-esteem and some extend fulfill emergency need. They feel that they are alone.            

Job fair organized by YCDA for empower the young adults for providing job opportunities in different sectors. In this two days event several employers of different company /traders and job seekers were there for the purpose of suitable job for a suitable candidate.

Being A Successful Care Leaver…..

Bina ( Name Changed) was just completed 18 years when she left the residential Institutional care. When she was only 6 years old her mother died and the child got neglected. She was only child. Her father was also died before. Automatically the child got out of parental care. The child was put into the child care institution. There she spent around 9 years. When she completed her 10^th grade, she got admission in Skill Development centre to continue her higher study. So she left the institutional Care. With the permission of Child Welfare Committee, she entered into the group living home. She stayed there with her other friends and continued her education.

YCDA taken this case and started the preparation of her care plan and counseling. Life skill training also has given to her to lead successful life in future it was realized that the she has a dream of successful future .So looking into her best interest and suitability she was enrolled in a one year course of Skill Development Institute. Educational support and counseling support was provided her. In course of time she completed the course and soon after completed her course, she recently got offered a good job in reputed company in Hyderabad. Somehow she did not show her interest to join in Bhubaneswar rather she got interested to go to Hyderabad along with her other friends. Now she is working in a reputed company job and getting her salary of Rs.8000 per month excluding food and accommodation. Now she is happy to get her job and fulfill her dream. She is working hard. She is very dedicated and enthusiastic to learn. She said, “it’s more important to be happy than to be rich.”

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• Report of Care Leavers in India (PDF)