Support 100 Care leavers in India

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.”

*****************

• Report of Care Leavers in India (PDF)