18+: Building Support Systems for Youth Leaving Care

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka (SOS CVSL) has had much success in supporting youth to thrive as independent adults through the provision of continued support beyond the age of 18. However, numerous issues faced by youth leaving care were highlighted during several consultations with care leavers, children in transition as well as caregivers, of both SOS CVs and other CCIs.
This prompted SOS CVSL to initiate an advocacy campaign to lobby for the establishment of support systems to provide both transitional and aftercare support for these youth, to facilitate the transition to a productive, fulfilling, independent life. This report captures the proceedings, outcomes and the way forward of advocacy campaign launched on the 27th of July 2017, at the Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.