Careleavers Inner Circle Forum (CLiC)

India has over 8000 orphanages (CCIs) that house over 3 lakh children. As per government rule, every child is required to leave their CCI once they tu Read morern 18 years old. These orphan youth are called “Careleavers”. As they venture out on their own, they have to face many problems as they live independently for the first time in their lives. CLiC (Careleavers Inner Circle) is India’s first social impact start-up founded by some of these orphan youth raised in the orphanages of Rajasthan. Our mission is to create a network of careleavers and provide them with all the support they need to become self-reliant. We are developing a unique tech-based platform to create the network. We provide them with peer support, especially between the ages of 15 to 25 years. To help their smooth transition into mainstream society we provide Housing support, Education, Skill Development, Legal guidance, Financial Education, Jobs, and Psychological and emotional support.  Who Are Careleavers? Children who are compelled to leave their orphanages post turning 18 years of age (as per government rule). Their journey after leaving the orphanage is often disrupted, unstable, and full of challenges. They do not have basic identity documents which makes it difficult for them to find secure housing. Most of them have not completed their education and are compelled to do odd jobs like labor, guard, etc. They struggle to cope and are often socially excluded, go through depression and have phases of uncertainty, and unemployment, and do not know whom to depend on. Additionally, they lack access to counseling on mental health, career, guidance, financial literacy, legal guidance, and other resources that can help them succeed. These factors push careleavers into a life of extreme hardships and poverty. We are amongst the most vulnerable sections of the youth population, but we have immense potential and with little support, we can become resilient and independent citizens, who will not only live a better life with dignity but also give back to society. Vision: Our vision is to make every CareLeaver self-reliant.