Session 15/21

Page 5/7 Preparing teenagers in time before leaving

Preparing teenagers in time before leaving

As you heard in the interview with Saleh, he participated in SOS’ regular preparation seminars for care leavers. In our interviews with care leavers, they sum up advice for staff:

“Make sure that children and youth in care meet other youth who have either left care or are not in alternative care.
Prepare the teenagers for how they can be responsible for themselves.
Teach teenagers the skills for community jobs to make a living.
Give young people a clear direction and examples from real life.
Introduce teenagers to key persons in the community we will live in.
Gather groups to talk about different subjects and use educational videos and visits from experts (people having experience with crime prevention, avoiding early pregnancy, HIV, COVID19).”

HOW CAN WE PREPARE TEENAGERS? SOME IDEAS FOR YOUR PLANNING

Here are some ideas from care leaver projects to inspire your work:

At seminars and meetings, SOSCV staff can divide teenagers into work groups. Present them with challenges and dilemmas in life after care. Ask each group to study a subject, discuss, and then present solutions and coping strategies to the audience. Staff can listen and give feedback after presentations. Experienced care leavers can be invited and provide feedback also.

Local craftsmen and working women from the community can be invited to present their jobs and skills, or a foster family can connect with a local business owner. Teenagers can work at a local workplace for a while, to see if this may be a future job to pay for living expenses after care.

A particular risk for young women’s future after care is that many become single mothers soon after leaving. For dialogues with young people about sexual and reproductive health rights and safe sexual behaviour, you can find inspiration in this session: https://fairstartfoundation.com/1-1_sexual-behaviour-and-contraception/

CELEBRATING THE TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD

In traditional African culture, initiation rites and festivities help the transition from being a child, to take the role and responsibilities of an adult individual. These rites make it clear for the young person and the whole society that the person is now an independent adult. Making a social event to mark the transition is a very important way to recognize this psychological change. You can make a party to celebrate the last day in care – a memorable event will help youth become proud of their new identity as independent adults. Arranging a farewell party can boost the self-reliance of a young person. Beforehand, caregivers should collect all photos, videos, and other personal recordings from the placement in a booklet. The main caregiver can prepare a short speech, and talk about how the young person has contributed to life in the family or group while in care. He or she can describe the social skills, strengths and talents of the young person. The young person can give a speech about what he or she learned while in care, and future plans. Other youth or children may describe how the person is a good friend. Family members and future connections in the community can be invited, to discuss after the party how they can support the young person in the future.

GROUP DISCUSSION

10 minutes

How can we prepare teenagers by informing them about risks, and connect them with people in the community long before they leave?
How can we celebrate care leavers, to empower their self-esteem and their new status as valuable adults?

You have studied and discussed how to prepare for leaving in childhood, in teenage years, and at the moment where the young person bids farewell to his or her secure base. Now, let us look at how returning to the community after care can be planned?