THE INTERNATIONAL CARE LEAVERS
CONVENTION 2020
#Firststepofcarelovers
#changenotchallenges
January 02, 2020
Dr
Kiran Modi: “How the policymakers can state that the child in CCI is ready to
be “Set Free”?”
Such
young people and their networks, from different countries, came together at the
first “International Care Leavers Convention 2020,” held virtually, between 23rd
to 25th November 2020. Additionally, there were practitioners of
Care Systems, researchers, who worked on Care leaving, and Policymakers, who
held discussions and debates on this very emotive subject. Before this, there
were 4 pre-events held in October and November, as a precursor to the main
event, with different themes on Care Leaving practices, researches, posters,
videos, etc. The Care Leavers voiced their need for continued care and support
at societal, national, and international levels, beyond 18, like any normal
child/ youth in a family gets. The convention was led by four organisations and
four care leavers’ networks[1].
In
our opinion, the transformation procedure or a vision for change for which a
Care Leaver has to fight for can be categorised into three levels: Primary,
Secondary, and Tertiary. The Primary level can be the stage of identification
of challenges the care leavers faces; the Secondary level would be the stage of
addressing these challenges and receiving support from the state, followed by the
Tertiary level that witnesses these Care Leavers to become a recognized and
resilient group, wherein they become a part of key decisions, made by the
Governments, towards the transition of children in care settings to the larger
society. The “First International Care Leavers Convention 2020’ was indeed a platform
that converged immense knowledge, awareness, and inspiration by and with the
care leavers. It was overwhelming to know that in many countries the Care
Leavers have reached the Secondary level but at the same time, it was devastating
to realize that in India and many other countries, the Care Leavers Groups are
not even recognized or supported, either by civil society or by the government.
The state has no or less awareness about the plans and existence of these youths
who become Care Leavers on turning 18 years of age, as to what travails they
face, alone, unsupported, and uncared for. The care officials at present are
focused on declaring these CCI youths to “Set Free”, as soon as possible upon
turning 18 years of age.
In
other countries, such as Ireland, UK, Australia and Scotland, the state
officials have started recognizing Care Leavers as an important part of the
mainstream society and they do consider their voices. The government,
practitioners, universities, social workers, and academicians now play an
important role in contributing to building a support system for the Care
Leavers. The Care Leavers groups are encouraged to advocate with the government
officials for their needs and requirements, but in India, despite Juvenile
Justice Laws mandating Aftercare support, most of the times Care Leavers are
stranded alone, not entertained, heard or supported, even by the care home
officials, where they had spent the best part of their childhood; there are no
redressal systems in government settings to reach out to. Care Leavers are not
trained in education or vocation, nor helped to develop their agency, to be
able to collect the confidence, believe and trust to raise their voices for the
government to hear and address. From gaining admission for further education or
vocational training to accommodation, even to get the basic financial support,
these Care Leavers find themselves trapped in a system, which is not addressing
their issues relevantly, adequately and even timely, and list of policies and provisions,
which when being formulated for them, they were never made apart of.
Karishma Singh, a young person from India proposed
that Care Leavers must give back to the younger children still in care so that
none feel unsupported. The youths who have
experienced the care system can operate it efficiently and impactfully if the
state officials promise to stand beside them. The Indian Care Leavers need
someone standing there to support them when they look back or fall back in the
fast course of life.“It’s your job, but
for me, it’s my whole life”: Ms Martine Tobe sharing words from a Care Leaver
in the International Care Leavers Convention.
From
India, it was only Care Leavers, members of CLAN, India (Care Leavers
Association and Network), who were representing India. A country with more than
ten thousand CCIs/Home, with millions of children in Care (records, reports,
and data are available on MWCD India website) and Out of Care (no data are
available), could have had greater participation.
In
India, it is evident that the Child in CCIs does experiences barriers, for participating
in one’s own life decisions; mostly decisions are taken for him/her. Lack of
trust can be one reason that these young people face. They are in constant
dilemma and distrust that whether their voices or opinions will reach the right
place, whether their opinions will be considered or not and whether the pages
of their life's stories and challenges will be taken, read aloud, or would be
just flipped to the next one, and sadly same continues when they become Care
Leavers.
As
far as age is considered, for children below the majority, their opinions
should be considered to analyze and come to a common decision-making point. An
opinion poll can also be facilitated for the same. At the end of the day, their
voices should not be left behind. We, Care Leavers from India, believe that through
First
International Care Leavers Convention 2020, this
initiative of bringing Care Leavers, Officials, Social Worker and Practitioners
on one platform to have healthy dialogues with each other; to address the
unheard questions; to hear the stories of ‘struggle’, ‘moving on’ and
‘survivors’; to hear the ‘alumni of Care System’ called “Care Leavers”,
will bring a huge difference in the lives of Care Leavers from around the
globe.
In
India, we need to have a Care Leaver's association representing India and not
just a district or state to be able to emerge as a huge strong group that
deserves a better future. Giving a platform to the Care Leavers like the
International Care Leavers Convention 2020to present their voices, space where
they can present their identity, a stage to recite their stories and struggles
proudly, and an environment where they are one of them. The aftercare setting
for the care leavers should be the new normal. The system should extend the
support similar to what the education system has as primary, secondary, and
higher secondary levels for education. Similarly, the Ministry of Women and
Child Development should design a system that supports Care Leavers, with a care
system, divided into stages to help the youth in care receive a continuum of
care. This can be designed as phases starting from early childhood to initial
vulnerable stages of adulthood when a youth needs proper guidance, support,
life skills, and knowledge to step and transition into adulthood from
childhood.
The child in care already carries unrepairable,
sad memories and life in care add more experiences along with learning. The
experiences of each Care Leaver are different and unique just like them. Care
System is like a classroom where you have one teacher over twenty to thirty
children and sometimes more, especially in CCIs. But they need individual care
and attention at different stages and a belief that they can share everything
with the caregivers/authorities/staff/officials and they will be there to
listen, support, solve and care. ‘Beyond
18’ should not be a question anymore but an explanation, guidance, and path
for a better life.
We can
say with so much pride that this "First International Care leavers
Convention 2020" has instigated the feeling of trust, hope, enthusiasm and
has induced dreams of a better life among care Leavers across the world. This
remarkable initiative has unified Care Leavers from diverse cultures and
backgrounds to take a stance for fundamental rights of themselves as well as
for those who are still unaware about the significance of a much-needed change
in society. It will also enhance the lives of residential care children who are
about to embark on the journey of adulthood. I believe through this platform,
we have been able to accumulate more key takeaways than we could ever do by
reaching out to each organisation's care leavers individually. I
hope 3-days networking and learning sessions, critical takeaways from care
leavers, painful stories and their current vulnerable situation amidst COVID-19
will persuade the policymakers and civil society organisations to scrap the
thought of abandoning children at 18 from their minds forever and will make
efforts to realise the existing laws to leverage extended support to this
forgotten segment of society. This convention has only made the first step and
there is a long way to go to realise the dream that no youth shall be uncared
for.
“Let’s work to make our Heart Family Grow” was a
resolve of all Care Leavers who have decided firmly to form a Care leavers
International Network that is their family and as Dr Kiran Modi said, “The
journey from Care Leavers to Care Lovers is long but the walk on this pathway
has begun and will continue”.
Written
by:
CLAN,
Delhi, India
[1] Udayan Care, Kinderperspectief, SOS Childrens Villages
International and the University of Hildesheim, CLAN India, GNG Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
care leavers network and the Latin American Care leavers Network. See more at
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