News items
Young people in Cali and London discuss Leaving Care
1 November 2011
Last month COTA hosted its first ever international video call between care leavers from Cali and London. Find out more about the young people's experiences here.Monica, Jonathan and Jennifer grew up in (large-scale) residential children's homes in Cali, and since leaving care one year ago have been living in supported accommodation provided by COTA's Partner "Forming Futures" (FFF). FFF seeks to improve the experience of and opportunities for care leavers by working with children still in care to help them develop life skills and prepare for when they come to leave care and supporting care leavers, with after-care support, to make the transition from care to independent living.
Aicha and Rachel both grew up in London based foster families, and now live independently: Aicha in her own flat (supported) and Rachel in student accommodation at her University. They are both involved with the work of The Who Cares? Trust, a UK NGO supporting children and young people in - and leaving - care. As they talked, the young people discovered how different the support for children in, and leaving, care is in Colombia and England - but how similar some of their emotional experiences were. It is with great pleasure that I share this story with you.
