The aspirations and achievement motivation among care leavers: An exploration through life course perspective

Upon reaching the age of 18, individuals who have resided in Child Care Institutions are required to leave the nurturing and protective environment of the institutional care, thus becoming known as ‘care leavers.’ This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the aspirations and motivation for achievement among care leavers and their competencies to realize their aspirations. The research involved 15 young care leavers residing in Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bundi, and Dungarpur of Rajasthan, India, who had been in institutional care as children in need of care and protection and transitioned into independent living at the age of 18. Interviews were conducted at their residences or places of employment. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis to identify and develop themes. The study examined the educational, occupational, and marriage aspirations of care leavers and the obstacles they encountered in pursuing these aspirations. Findings revealed that care leavers faced a range of competencies and challenges in their pursuit of goals, with inadequacies posing significant barriers to realizing their aspirations. Some care leavers demonstrated a notably high level of competencies compared to their inadequacies, which served as a source of motivation in their pursuit of aspirations. The successful reintegration of care leavers into society and their prospects for a promising future are significantly influenced by the quality of the environment and facilities provided within institutional care. The study suggests the need for a specialized E-portal and a helpline number to facilitate a smooth transition into society. Despite possessing the necessary competencies aligned with their aspirations, care leavers continue to face challenges in achieving success. The study advocates for collaborative efforts among care leavers, non-governmental organizations, Child Care Institutions, government entities, and society as a whole to support the realization of these aspirations.