Longitudinal research has shown that, of all the identifiable groups in society, young people who have been in care are the most likely to experience poor outcomes in adult life. Upon exit, they are often forced to begin the transition into adulthood without the proper resources or knowledge of their environment and face immense challenges and risks. Care leavers are extremely vulnerable to homelessness, human trafficking, sexual and labor exploitation, depression, and recruitment by gangs or militant groups.
In light of these challenges, during the summer of 2011, the International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA) conducted a needs assessment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that focused on identifying the strengths, needs, and risks of orphaned and vulnerable adolescents who are transitioning to independence. The data collected has served to inform the overall Transitions Initiative, led by IOFA, which aims to establish a comprehensive support system for youth aging out of care and to build awareness around the issues that this vulnerable population confronts.
The assessment revealed that youth who had already aged out of care were unprepared to find sufficient work once they had left their orphanage or community center. Some participants stressed that, because they were unemployed, they could not afford to go to school. Others talked about feeling forced to choose work over school in order to afford and survive in their day-to-day life. All of the youth who had already transitioned out of care agreed that the responsibility of taking care of themselves was “just laid” into their hands upon leaving care. Similarly, for those youth still in or receiving care, results of the needs assessment confirmed that youth face significant and critical challenges. Nearly all participants (95%) felt that they were unprepared to leave care; did not know where they would live (89%), how they would find a job (100%), or how they would earn money (95%).