Aftercare is an often-neglected aspect of the alternative care system in most parts of the world. Care leavers therefore struggle with uncertainty and the lack of specialised services to cope with independent living. Care leavers often consider themselves excluded and unable to socially integrate. This is especially relevant in the context of children with difficult backgrounds such as children of women in prostitution. This paper from the Institutionalised Children: Explorations and Beyond Special Issue on Aftercare provides an insight into the lives of two such care leavers to understand their experiences in the world outside care. It brings out significant recommendations for reforms in aftercare policies for children leaving care.
