CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS

4.0.0. INTRODUCTION

The chapter discloses the obtained data and presents research findings. Tables and figures are

utilised to highlight emerging themes across collected data from the participated subjects thus

foster care leavers and their professional care takers including social workers, for decoding

and explaining thus bringing understanding thereof. Through presentations of the emerged

themes and their sub- themes throughout the process of collecting data. The narratives of the

participants correspond with the findings.

4.0.1. DEMOGRAPHICS

The primary participants were 8 young man aged 18 to 24 years who were formerly under

care at St Joseph House of Boys institution but through referrals 2 more boys from concealed

institutions were interviewed. The study also included social workers particularly an

institutional counsellor at St Joseph House of Boys and follow-up caseworker from the

Department of Social Development (DSD) as key informants. Ultimately, from a total of 10

former foster care youths data was collected, with their age groups ranging from 18 to 26

years old and two social workers living in Harare.

Participants

Table 1: Background Information on Primary Participants

Participant Current Gender Level of Are You Marital Duration

s Age(years) education Employment status after

attained status care

Participant 1 19 MALE ‘O’ Level Yes Single 1 Year

Participant 2 20 MALE ‘O’ Level No Single 2 Years

 Participant 3 18 MALE ‘A’ Level No Single 6Months

Participant 4 19 MALE ‘O’ Level No Single 1 Year

Participant 5 22 MALE ‘O’ Level No Single 3 Years

Participant 6 24 MALE Undergraduate Yes Married 5 Years

Participant 7 20 MALE College No Single 2 Years

Student

Participant 8 21 MALE ‘O’ Level Yes Single 3 Years

Participant 9 21 MALE ‘O’ Level No Single 3 Years

Participant 23 MALE Form 2 No Single 4 Years

10

These 10 participants, 7 were between the ages of 19 and 21 years and 3 were the ages of 22

and 25 years. These findings suggested that the bigger number of youths oust institutional

care between ages of 18 to 21 years. Children’s Amendment Act No 8, 2023 after turning 18

years. Given that St Joseph Institution harbours boys, all primary participants were male.

Furthermore, the findings suggests, 70% of these children dropped out of school before or so

after ‘Level. Previous research implies that former foster youth typically have less education,

earn lower wages, and experience unemployment than their peers, (Boyle, 2019).Therefore,

educational attainment of the former foster youths was important as it would reveal about

how far education had been achieved among the selected group of youth who aged out of

care.

Interview guide questions were used to prompt research participants to indicate whether they

were employed. According to the research, 3 (30%) of all 10 participants indicated they were
employed. Apparently, seventy percent of the respondents show that most of the young man

who left institutional foster care were unemployed and devoid of a formal job hence prone to

economic hardships. From these findings, during the interviews held, only 1 which is

equivalent to 10% of the participants among the 10 revealed that they were married.

Conversely, 9 or 90% indicated that they were unmarried; on the contrary, though, 3 of these

9 confessed that they do have children of their own.

Table 2: Key informants’ characteristics.

Key informants were numbered according to the time they were involved. Numbers were

utilised so as to conceal their identity.

Participant Occupation Sex Years of experience

Informant 1 Institutional counsellor Male 5 years

Informant 2 DSD Caseworker Female 7 years

The researcher deliberately targeted these participants as key informants since the nature of

their occupations sees them dealing with children under care most of their career experience

hence are inherently rich in information. The findings expressed both of these participants

have worked as social workers for over five years. This means they should have a deeper

understanding and more experience with the life of young people who leave the foster care

system in Zimbabwe.

4.1.0. CHALLENGES FACED BY 18+ YOUTHS LEAVING CARE

4.1.1. Lack of Housing and Unemployment Post Foster Care.

Most people in the group said they didn't have a job and no one was taking care of them.

However, one person who used to have a temporary job mentioned something like this:
(Participant 7, 20 years old): “Nyaya dzemari ndoyairi challenge hombe zvimwewo nekuti

it changed life yangu kuita upside down. Nekuti when I was at St Joseph, I was receiving

foster child assistance funds mwedzi nemwedzi through vanhu vekuSocial Welfare.’’

(Participant 4, 19 years): “"I started seeing things differently because I no longer had

money. I stopped getting foster child support and care. It was hard to buy food since my

foster benefits ended.’’

Key Informant 1: ‘‘Lack of job security often causes the care leavers to find for themselves

too much free time that eventually develop to boredom, emptiness, and laziness. This may be

one major reason why young people leaving foster care fail to secure employment

opportunities due to their lack of experience and skills in the labour market’’

According to the aforementioned accounts, one of the difficulties faced by young people in

Zimbabwe who leave the foster care system is unemployment and housing insecurity. One

problem that worried young people who had to support themselves because they didn't have

enough money was finding a stable job. Young people, particularly those leaving foster care,

account for 53.6% of unemployment, according to the World Bank (2019). It is possible to

characterize the time between young foster youths and young adults as high risk because of

the increased likelihood of disastrous outcomes such drug misuse, homelessness, mental

health issues, unemployment, and incarceration (Keller et al., 2021).

It is clear from the research findings that those who leave institutional care experience

financial difficulties as a result of their unemployment. Their inability to finish their

education and lack of pertinent skills are the causes of their unemployment. According to Van

Breda and FrimpongManso (2020), young people should be given the necessary life skills to

improve their employability by learning useful professional or entrepreneurial abilities that

will enable them to overcome some of their obstacles. It is evident that transitional programs
are crucial for successful independent living since they assist prepare youth while they are in

institutional care and support them after they leave.

4.1.2. Neglection from parents or care givers

Some data show that institutional caregivers are not interacting with case managers. If they

intend to apply for a foster care placement they usually have time, but if they are in foster

care it is a fact that all caretakers report the impossibility to go to work without a day off for

being able to be monitored by social workers. Social workers, however, can be placed under

court orders regarding foster care or cases that are no longer active. Also, after the release of

the children by the province restructuring under the Children’s Amendment Act No. Foster

care parents are unfortunately prone, in 2023, to become quickly bored and desist from

wanting to take care of them. On the other hand, the biological parents of the youth leaving

the care are, unfortunately, not always ready to get back to their children.

Key Informant 2: ‘‘On a court date, unofana kuvafonera repeatedly to remind them of the

date. In court, a court order may be extended and the one we are working on is when it is

required to be accompanied by the foster parents or caregivers involved. Vanongoti havana

time, and I have always told them that the run they take to the bank to get foster child support

payments is the run they have to take to the social worker's office to renew the court order.’’

Key Informant 1, also complained as follows: The boy or youth residing at the St Joseph

House of Boys has no parents or guardians in the family who are active contributors to

kutibatsira for raising. At the very same time as I am talking to you, I am parentless vana

vekuti, that is, I do not know who my biological parents are and sometimes not even a later

caseworker for those particular kids.

Biological parents of the care leavers were also described as being reluctant to see the care

leavers again after their discharge from the services covered by the Children's Amendment

Act No 8, 2023.

Key Informant 2: ‘……I think the challenges that we face in this institution regard the lack

of cooperation from the biological parents of the youths under our care. Vamwe who have

been identified have been sharing that they do not and cannot manage the child just before

they are evicted and in fact find some reason to take their child back even after their situation

has improved. Saka, for me, is the problem that we conduct.’

The results show that foster parents consistently they all head straight to social worker's

appointments to apply for foster care placements, but they fall off the schedule once the

placement is permanent. That is, social workers are well ready to work with foster parents in

case they might become involved in the foster care system. Furthermore, the results

demonstrate that in the group of the foster children, the abusive pattern is practiced not only

by foster parents, but also by their own natural parents. This is counter to the Children's

Amendment Act No. Among also amendments and regulations that cover the protection and

care of children can be identified. When providing supervision services, some participants

mentioned that social workers did not provide the required assistance to foster children or

teens. Also, biological kinship (reunification with biological relatives or biological parents

from foster care) was not accomplished.

Participant 5, 22 years old: ‘‘It's painful right now to know that my mom's gone, since I

have no idea if the demons are still down in the sticks. But I am always asking myself

questions and it gives me the impression that pasina anyone can give me a response.

Therefore, if mom’s vacho wishes to look for me, I have no idea (I know nothing). Maybe she
doesn't even care one jot if I am alive, or eating, or all in all being well looked after. ----- -.

Dzese idzi indangariro. I also, say to myself, that my mother has never loved me.’’

According to the participants' findings, social workers are not doing a good job of providing

reunification and monitoring services. Additionally, some of the young people who leave

Zimbabwe's foster care system may not know the whereabouts of their relatives.

4.1.3 Poverty and educational vulnerability

Adolescents previously confined by the Children's Amendment Act No. (8, 2023) in the

context of poverty, disease, and poor school performance is under threat. This is because they

didn't finish their education or get the life skills they needed to handle life outside foster care.

Most adolescents who exit foster care suffer from socioeconomic disadvantage, as one would

expect given the high levels of unemployment and lack of schooling in the sample (Nkoma

and Dzapasi, 2023). Furthermore, children and youth in Zimbabwe are held back from

growing up to their full potential as adults due to pervasive poverty in the country as a whole.

Interview respondents indicated poverty and disrupted education as two of the most common

issues that they have encountered after leaving the institution. This was supported by the

following responses;

(Participant 1, 19 years old): “My girlfriend whom l am staying with is not working. Nzara

chaiyo is the other one compared to tisina Mari for edible food purchasing. That l is

impregnated by my girlfriend l, who l is able to work in any place, is when the reality at home

collapses. Because they are under stress and depression all the time, not knowing what

tomorrow will bring with a baby on the calendar, I feel this way.”

(Participant 10, 23 years old): “Because I did not finish my education, being independent

is a challenge at the moment. Since I had also discontinued receiving foster child care and

foster child support payments that was all completely different. Due to the unemployment of
my foster dad and his child, we had difficulty putting food on the table at home. I therefore

needed to get employment in order to support my family.’’

According to the results, most of the participants had financial difficulties when they left the

foster care system. To access their surroundings and capitalize on the networks and resources

that would help them survive and adapt in the community, the majority of them, nevertheless,

relied on their inventiveness and skills. In addition to the typically high rates of poverty

among Zimbabwean children, research has shown that many young when transitioning from

the foster care system, individuals are often left with little or no financial support, and as

young adults a world economic shock makes it unlikely to achieve future promise (Getz,

2019). Therefore, it can be concluded that an 18 years old youth exiting the foster care system

cannot be assumed to be fully prepared to leave the care regime prior to 18 years.

4.1.4. Mental health challenges

Research demonstrates that early-life maltreatment can increase the likelihood of substance

dependence, anxiety, personality, and severe depression. González (2019), ‘post the exit from

the foster care system, the research subjects had a very strong sense that they had overcome a

serious psychological hurdle, namely depression.’ As seen by the following responses, the

individuals reported experiencing additional behavioural and psychosocial difficulties,

including drug misuse, loneliness, and depression:

Participant 8, 21 years old: "I always get the impression that people don't like me, and to

make things bad ndakamitisa and everybody turned their back."

(Participant 5, 20 years old): "Ndakasvika pekuti I felt that I couldn't accomplish anything in

life, so I was simply lounging around the house doing nothing. I tried applying for

scholarships but was not successful since I felt so rejected.’’

(Participant 10, 23 years old). "The people I live with have made my surroundings

unpleasant and have made my life so hard zvekuti ndakanzwa zviri nane kuenda kuMbare."

Since I am not contributing anything to the house, I feel completely unwanted.’’

Results indicate that following foster care removals, study participants reported significant

psychological and emotional disruptiveness as reflected in responses. They are further more

at risk to experience severe complications from serious mental and emotional illness during

adolescence and adulthood relative to their general population counterparts. Diversity and

Cunningham, 2019). In new life after care, depression and drug misuse are the main causes of

health issues. According to (Zinn and Courtney 2019), the difficulties that young people face

lead to psychiatric disorders such anxiety, depression, and substance usage as a kind of self-

medication. Thus, due to a lack of support, young people eventually join or become members

of groups that exhibit aberrant behaviour. Therefore, it's critical to identify each of these

difficulties so that plans may be developed to overcome them.

4.2.0 COPING MECHANISMS FOR OUSTED OF THE INSTITIONAL CARE

The data points to the fact that exiting youth from the child welfare system do well in passing

the bar of the trauma of the past. As participants have reported, young adults exiting foster

care employed a range of coping behaviours. The following subtopics are a list of the coping

behaviours of the respondents.

4.2.1. School and educational system.

A few participants disclosed that they utilize their schooling as a coping strategy. Them being

prepared for independent life outside care system, they feel that education is essential.

Furthermore, they view a degree or continuing their education as one of the things that can

help them reach their life goals.

(Participant 8, 21 years old): ‘‘One of my issues was that I was the oldest and thus the most

experienced foster child and responsible for all other children (mitigating, soothing,

attracting, etc. However, due to my previous habit of taking my studies very seriously, I

needed to study extremely well at the time. The foster parent's yelling at us didn't bother me. I

vowed to myself that no matter what hurdle I encountered, I would overcome it to the very

best of my ability, even if I did not achieve a degree, I would not go further. There, in that

foster care environment, I had to keep the other foster children safe as well, “I said.’’

(Participant 9,21 years old): I must constantly remind myself that this is not my home as a

result. To accomplish the things, I've always wanted in life, I always push myself to finish my

"A" Level and continue my education at a university.

(Key Informant 1): ‘‘They were sent from one maternal/paternal aunt to another in order to

deal with their experiences as children growing up without a mother. They have survived that

process. That's actually where they begin. They talk to us as social workers and apply their

experience as a pigmentary learning process------. By studying diligently and lowering

themselves, they also use education as a coping strategy. Despite the uncertainty of the

future, some hoped that conditions would improve.’’

Social workers further articulated how the schooling system and the school functioning itself

as a resilience factor for youth exiting the foster care system. The enrichment of life is

reflected in their attempt to learn and research. As far as are concerned by the social workers
(young people leaving the care system), also students, and school is used as a survival tool for

the young people of their care to find a job or a career after "pass" their "A" Level. According

to the results, young adults leaving the foster care environment perceive education as an

essential step towards developing independence immediately after discharge under the

Children's Amendment Act No. 8, of 2023.

4.2.2. Religious Affiliations.

This one of the participants stated that it was physically impossible to bear the passing of her

mother, but by going to the church service she was apparently cured. The following verbatim

quote reflects the participants' opinion.

(Participant 1 ,19 years old): ‘… I can therefore conclude that Christianity is the best

course of action. -------. I've come to terms with my mother's passing and persuaded myself

that it was inevitable. I simply go to my mother's cemetery and clean it whenever I feel like I

miss her. I even address her as though she were in front of me or still alive. I simply feel

better after speaking with her at her grave.

(Key Informant 1): ‘‘. Additionally, tine chichi, all children vanoenda to participate in

church activities and attend services. Furthermore, those sessions truly helped them realize

that even if their families abandoned them when they most needed them, God still loves

them.’’

Based on the aforementioned findings, social workers also believed that churches and

religion have a significant impact on young people, enabling them to overcome their

struggles in the foster care system. The young people are encouraged to get involved in

church activities in addition to attending services. The belief systems of the young people

who are leaving foster care and do not practice Christianity are likewise acknowledged and

accepted. The results demonstrate that the participants' religion or belief system can assist
them in coming to terms with the death of a loved one. The aforementioned results further

emphasize how crucial it is to let young people Individuals leaving the foster care system

adhere to beliefs of their own choosing. It is also consistent with the Declaration of Rights set

out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Chapter 4 containing the Bill of Rights where it is

provided that every citizen has freedom of religion, belief and opinion.

4.2.3. Peers, siblings and fiancé

Participants also reported that they also sought their sibling, fiancé and peer as ways out. [P]

People shared a patio, in order to be able to share their experience with others.

(Participant 5, 21years old): ‘‘Therefore, I simply go hang out with my pals and keep myself

occupied in order to manage the difficulties I've encountered. We use the laptop to play music

instead. I occasionally even tell them about my predicament. Ndogona kungoti I depend on

my friends. My friends and peers were the only ones who showed me kindness since I could

confide in them about any incident I had in life.’’

(Participant 5, 21 years old): ‘‘My only child is one year old. Mukadzi wangu nhererawo

futi, will be staying with me. And I was in foster care when I first met her.’’

(Key Informant 2): ‘‘They always rely on one another to help them deal with whatever has

occurred to them, and they become stronger when they discover more kids here because they

know they are not alone.’’

Two social workers also spoke to the fact that young people in Zimbabwe who were escaping

the foster care system turned to their peers as a coping strategy. Results show that talking to

someone you trust about your struggles and experiences can help you accept or heal from
your situation. Therefore, we all need someone in our life who is constantly there to listen to

our tears.

4.2.4. Employment

Even though it's mostly informal, these care leavers frequently turn to work of some kind to

meet their basic needs, such food and housing.

(Participant 6,24 years old): ‘‘Prior to leaving the foster family, I worked paZindoga

braaiing. I spent two months living with my friend before finding employment at paZindoga,

ndakagarra kwetwo years and a few months. In June of gore rapera (2023), I was laid off.

-------. As a result, I was hired by Chicken Inn, where I worked for less than a month. I had to

work till extremely late at night, which was a hardship. We didn't have transportation to

Ushehwekunze, so I made the decision to quit that work. For a while, I worked till the wee

hours of the morning. -------. Because of those circumstances, I made the decision to step

down.’’

(Participant 5, 22 years old): ‘‘I am currently making $150 USD a month working at the

Shasha Mall in town-------- -. Therefore, ndogona kutenga food, clothing, and other basics

mostly for my child in addition to the child support award from one of my children.’’

The results show that the majority of participants make an effort to pursue employment, even

if they only find lower-paying positions. Others were forced to rely on their family members

for lodging.

4.3.0. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INSTITIONAL CARE SYSTEM.

Participants also provided a range of suggestions for how to cope with the problems that

come with the youthfulness of the Zimbabwean foster care system. These solutions are

described in the sub themes below.

4.3.1 Mandatorily for institutional foster care to set aside funds

Some respondents suggested that it should be mandatory for custodial foster carers to save

for foster pupils whilst they are looked after.

(Participant 5, 22 years old). 'I have an idea of what they [the virtual advisors] should aim to

help to save a portion of the money during our stay in the foster care system for future studies

at completion of 'A 'Level'. On the other hand, the simple reality is that they are simply

shoveling all the cash into food, clothes, and other basic family expenses. In order to survive

out of foster care, among other things, we fail to survive out of foster care, most especially if

we cease school attendance, or if we have stopped school by 18 or 21 years of age.’

(Participant 10, 23 years old): ‘‘They should also ensure the foster care provider is

financially ready to stockpile money for the child in order that when it is needed and we wish

to go to university, the money can be used from that stockpile, or else this money (the foster

child grant) is completely depleted. She never budget for the needs of a future foster child.

-------. All right, if my foster child grant was continued, the intention was to use it to go to

college, however, I do not have anything to do.’’

(Informant 1): We further suggest that foster caregivers stockpile a portion of their own

resources which may be used to because of our limited access to the networks within which

we can interact and hence help, vana for whom we must find nzira to help learn to perform

their tasks, we are demonstrably lacking the appropriate orientated knowledge on the how to

get them to do same tasks. Tobatsira when we can.

The caretakers' aforementioned suggestions are also supported by the two important

informants listed below. Foster parents are always encouraged to save money from the foster

kid stipend, according to one of the social workers. The follow-up caseworker claims that one
child enrolled for university, thanks to savings from the foster child support funding.

Additionally, they proposed that the foster child support funds may be used to help the care

leaver transition to life outside of institutional care. Therefore, requiring responsible

institutional caregivers to set aside a portion of their income so that foster children can get

future assistance. For instance, it can assist them in paying for university enrolment and

providing them with funds to start their lives outside of institutional care . Additionally, in

effort to effectively utilize the funds as a springboard for life beyond institutional care.

4.3.2. Smooth network among child’s biological parents, case manager and caseworker.

Participants’ results emphasize how crucial it is for the foster child and their biological

parents to stay in touch. Parents or other family members must help raise foster children or

young people leaving foster care. A participant recommended as follows:

(Participant 4,19 years old). ‘For this reason, I propose it that, when you lose children in

foster care, parents are not only expected but should also be part of their lives, because you

cannot live in foster care for the rest of your life). When a person leaves the foster care

system, they should be brought back together with the people who raised them. Imagine if

you did not have the chance to talk to them. Particularly, how can you begin building a

relationship with them.’’

(Participant 5, 22 years old). ‘‘What I have is data concerning the address of my family, but

especially of my mother. Also I would like to learn more about my father, his family history

and so on. I need to know about my roots. Currently, I do not know whether I am a Zezuru,

Ndebele or Mukaranga.’’
Perceptions toward family care are of paramount importance for care-leavers, either at the

level of the foster care system, provisions made by the Children's Act – (Chapter 5, 09) or as

an independent measure apart from the end of protective measures under the Children's Act.

In particular, they highlight why the right to individual identity of each and every person

must be paramount. As has been highlighted, social work services must be provided in order

that young people who are leaving the care system of "social exclusion" are properly

equipped to leave the care system of social exclusion.

4.3.3 Prioritising confidentiality and upholding views of foster children

The participants believed that in order to uphold the importance of secrecy, social workers

ought to conduct their interviews apart from those with the foster parents. Confidentiality will

also enable people to discuss their difficulties and experiences in a secure setting.

(Participant 3,18 years old). ‘Social workers should never interview a child in foster care

in the presence of foster parents who, it has been argued, will always be anxious to ". see"

them and discuss what has happened to them at the same time, when we are with the foster

parents, it is unthinkable to say a bad thing about them since we want to avoid any trouble so

that their work in the shelter is cancelled.’

In leaving the foster care system, the child or youth in foster care must always maintain the

confidentiality of all information which is given to the social worker. Confidentiality may be

breached if the foster child or adolescent has made a valid consent, unless disclosing the

information would risk the foster child, the child who is to be leaving care, or anyone else in

the vicinity. The respondents further indicated that social workers never completely disregard

their own assessments to allow it to be a voice in shaping where in foster care they should be

placed.
The findings indicate that the opinions of foster children or teens should be heard in all

matters concerning them once they leave the foster care system. Combining services from the

public and commercial sectors and linking resources for youth aging out of foster care. Most

participants agreed that social workers are essential in helping young people find resources

that will enable them to become self-sufficient young adults once they leave the foster care

system.

4.3.4 Housing allocations upon institutional departure.

In many case, for people leaving foster care homes, rearward/forward progress is facilitated

by the absence of other shelter or option to go which participants indicated they are worried

about. Ideally, they proposed at the least that social work professionals should be protected.

The following two remarks are the feedback provided by the respondents:

(Participant, 21 years old).

‘I think that indicate ndabudiswa muinstitution, masocial workers should have secured a

place to stay for me.’

(Participant, 19 years old)

‘What I have repeatedly reassured myself is that I have to secure a shelter for all of us

because my younger sister cannot be in the centre for the rest of her life. Well, I have to have

a shelter where I can be. Anything we can both claim, with my little sister. I'm aware that it's

hard the more, particularly for young girls, as if their life is bad, they are getting involved in

prostitution. Consequently, I must provide for her. Women are defenceless and mostly only

interact with older men. They enter a romantic relationship just for money from the old boys.’

Indeed, some of the social workers agreed with the care-leavers above, proposing to the state

that the state should build a youth shelter and exit the foster care system. The above results
highlight the need for access to housing as stated in the National Housing Policy (2012) and

in the Zimbabwe Constitution (2013). Furthermore, the results show that it will be possible

for this type of shelter to address the needs of those youth who are outside Further Education

and Training, those who are without work, those without accommodation and those whose

family of origin is unknown.

SUMMARY

Poverty, stigma and discrimination, educational disadvantage, and mental illness. The writing

of the chapter was also influenced by the study aim of the study. Research findings revealed

that young care leavers are subjected to a wide range of psychological, economic, physical

and social challenges due to lack of support after being forced into independent adult life

without enough support and preparation. The chapter also disclosed the work of government

and non-government organisations conducting the interventions to assist aging out care

leavers.