By Rupam Mahapatra | Project Director
Young adults in state care will remain in care system until they reach the age of 18. Young adults, out of home care often struggle to build stable lives. This is not surprising: typically young care leavers not only have to overcome a difficult childhood, but also tend to receive less support during the crucial period of early adulthood than youth living with their parents. In that period they require handholding support to built their life perfectly. They need support in the field of financial support, training in skills, handholding for career development, counseling for managing emotions and such other measures that contribute to the process of their mainstreaming in the society.
Care leavers face different challenges. They struggle with their identity in society, build career in higher education, loss of job, less salaries, accommodation. Care Leavers Association is benefit for the young people where young people feel they are not alone. The network is there to allow them to raise their voice where they need, advocating for change together rather than doing it alone. The young people group can listen to their other members issues and help them and give them a word of support in their crisis time. Dedicated care leavers worked for the progress of the challenges such as emotional support, job opportunities, housing information, mobilize financial resources.
The leading care leavers giving focus on career developmental tasks for care leavers and to know their interests, capacities, values and acquire knowledge about work to decide upon the realistic educational and career aspiration. When making career-related decisions, care leavers develop a positive career attitudes and behaviors and base their decisions on career-relevant knowledge and skills. The discussion with other care leavers was very much fruitful for the young adults for career mapping and to make their self assessment and self reflection.
YCDA organized Governing Body Meeting of Odisha Care Leavers Association (OCLA) on October 2022. Almost 20participants were participated including all the governing body members of OCLA and given their valuable suggestion for the growth of OCLA. The President of OCLA preside the meeting and discussed the following points during the meeting:
New hope of Care leaver
A Young adult of aged 20years, who has lost her mother during her childhood several years ago, is staying with her father. Her father is working as a daily wage labour in village. After the death of her mother it was too difficult for her father the family with low income. So, her father placed the her in Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for seeking institutional care. As per the order of CWC, the young adult was referred to a Child Care Institution (CCIs) for further care and Protection when she small. From that day onwards that CCI became home for her and now she has completed her 10th class examination with good marks. As per the JJ Act guideline she was referred to Youth Council for Development Alternatives (YCDA) by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for the aftercare support.
After several round of counseling sessions & doing carrier interest mapping. It was noticed that she has interested in technical Vocational education. Looking to his best interest she was applied & got admission at Govt. ITI collage, Bhubaneswar with the Support of Youth Council for Development Alternatives (YCDA).Now, se is very happy that he started her skill education in technical trade for employment opportunities.
Thank You GlobalGiving for the generous support to make a better life....
By Rupam Mahapatra | Project Director
By Rupam Mahapatra | Project Director
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