05/09/2026
SOS Children’s Villages Urges National Action to Support Young Care Leavers
Sep 4, 2026
SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia convened a National Impact Forum on Thursday at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Addis Ababa, calling for sustained national action to support young people transitioning from alternative care to independent living. The event marked the culmination of the five-year Leave No Youth Behind project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency.
Held under the theme "From Care to independence: Building Sustainable Life Pathways for Young People," the forum brought together government officials, development partners, civil society leaders, and young care leavers to address systemic barriers facing youth exiting care, including limited access to employment, housing, financial inclusion, and social protection.
Over its five-year implementation period, the Leave No Youth Behind project directly supported 1,259 young care leavers, established the National Coalition of Young Care Leavers Associations, and strengthened three care leavers'
associations representing 749 members.
The initiative also backed the establishment of the Family Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, built the capacity of 1,407 care professionals and government social workers across nine government sectors, and reached approximately 2.5 million people through public awareness campaigns.
In addition to direct youth empowerment, the project contributed to structural policy reforms in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, including the development and adoption of the National Minimum Standards for Preparation of Leaving Care and Aftercare Support.
Addressing attendees, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs representative Debebe Barud (PhD) reaffirmed the government's commitment to building frameworks that allow transitioning youth to participate in national social and economic development, emphasizing that supporting care leavers remains a collective societal responsibility.
SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is a non-governmental child welfare organization operating across nine regions and two city administrations in Ethiopia, focusing on family and community strengthening, alternative care, advocacy, health, education, humanitarian response, and youth empowerment.
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