It took five months to arrive through international post, but the Zimbabwe Care Leavers Network in Harare, finally received our Taking Hold of Our Heritage book.
Being care experienced is a global issue, and common themes of questioning identity, losing touch with your heritage and finding power with others when your safety net of a traditional family have gone, transcend borders and ocean.
Leicestershire Cares has built up a relationship with the Zimbabwe Care Leavers Network over the years through social media, sharing experiences and advice with each other to gain different insight and perspectives on how to build a village around care experienced young people to help them transition into independence.
We had a wonderful time going through Leicestershire Cares ‘Taking Hold of Our Heritage' during our Advocacy Strategic Planning Meeting. A lot of similarities were drawn from care leaver’s experiences from UK & Zimbabwe. The day ended with actions being crafted on legislation on aftercare support.
Gift Dzorai, Zimbabwe Care Leavers Network
We will spread the copies throughout our country. Thank you Leicestershire Cares for such positive impactful stories.
We are honoured and humbled to be able to support our care experience brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. This is a brilliant example of how young people can reach out share experience and make connections to make the world a better place for all
Kieran Breen, CEO, Leicestershire Cares
Taking Hold of Our Heritage
Taking Hold of our Heritage project gave the narrative power back to the care experienced young person so they could tell the stories they want heard about their lives.
This heritage project worked with young people to investigate the complex nature of the identity of care leavers, producing an archive of artefacts including oral histories, photography and photovoice. The young peopl investigated the memories and experiences of Leicestershire’s leaving care community, by looking at themselves, but also visiting and interviewing and documenting care experience young people.
The Taking Hold Our Heritage project was funded through the Y Heritage project, Leicester, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s pioneering "Kick the Dust” funding programme.
Taking Hold of Our Heritage project. Get a digital download of the book
Our work with care experienced young people
- Find out about the work we do with care experienced young people: mental wellbeing, employment and training, campaigning for Care Leavers rights, building social connection.
- Sign our Promise to Care
- Hear the voices of care experienced young people in our Podcasts
- Taking Hold of Our Heritage project. Get a digital download of the book
- Become a mentor to a care experienced young person
For more information about our work with care experienced young people, please contact Jacob Brown: jacob@leicestershirecares.co.uk
With thanks to Esmee Fairbairn for their support for our Care Experienced Young People's Programme.