There is strong evidence from many countries that young people transitioning out of alternative care at the legally defined care-leaving age face considerable challenges as they adapt to life beyond their previous care settings. While a growing body of research examines their experiences in the Global North, fewer studies report on the experiences of care leavers in the Global South.
This study draws on semi-structured qualitative interviews with 25 care leavers in Vietnam. It explores their experiences of adapting to life beyond their care centers. While many participants reported varying degrees of positive progress, the study also highlights significant challenges related to accommodation, employment, and education. Evidence also emerged of the emotional pressures involved in navigating these issues, concerns about social and family relationships, and the stigma associated with being identified as an ex-care child.
Some participants demonstrated resilience in finding their way and identifying sources of support—sometimes linked to connections through their care centers. For others, however, the precarity of daily life remained an ongoing burden. The analysis revealed both the agency of these young people and the crucial role of external support in sustaining that agency. Access to stable work, in particular, emerged as an especially critical factor.
