Beyond boundaries
My Journey through care experienced/Care leavers networks There was a time in my life when I didn’t know people like me existed. People who had grown up in institutions, group homes, or under child protection systems. People who had left care but were still figuring out how to live, trust, and belong. I used to think I was just an exception, trying to make sense of the world without a family, without backup, and without the usual roots others had. But the moment I entered my first care leaver group, I realised I was never alone, I was just never connected. That was the beginning of a powerful shift inside me. It didn’t happen overnight. The first meeting I attended felt unfamiliar. I had joined a local care leavers group in my region. Everyone had their own story some had faced street life, some had been in child care institutions for over a decade, some were from tribal or Dalit backgrounds, and many had faced multiple layers of discrimination. I remember sitting quietly, not knowing ...