Advocating for the Rights of Care-Leavers in Egypt

Abstract

According to Egyptian law, orphaned youth in care homes must transition out of care at 18, regardless of their readiness or support. Consequently, they bear the weight of managing their lives alone, addressing accommodation, education, health, finances, and legal matters without assistance. Integration into society proves challenging due to stigma, compounded by a non-inclusive labor market. Lacking proper education and training, these youth struggle to compete professionally and lack access to quality care promoting resilience and well-being.

To address these challenges, Sanad, an organization in Egypt's alternative care sector, initiated a five-year project titled "Care-Leavers' Independence." Within this project, Photovoice—a tool empowering care leavers to advocate for their rights—was employed. Eleven care leavers, comprising four females and seven males, participated in this project. Through photos and accompanying narratives, participants shared their experiences, culminating in an exhibition attended by key policymakers, including the Minister of Social Solidarity.

Analysis of the photos and narratives uncovered recurring themes among participants. These themes included the need for after-care support and habitation, the concept of citizenship, and fostering a sense of community among care leavers.

The presentation will delve into the Photovoice project's journey with Egypt's youth without parental care, highlighting emerged recommendations and best practices. This participatory research tool aims to shed light on the plight of care leavers and advocate for necessary support structures to aid their transition into independent adulthood.

Key words: youth without parental care, photovoice, Egypt, aftercare, independence, empowerment