This interpretive study examines the experiences of 54 Ethiopian emerging adults who had aged out of institutional care facilities. Findings are derived from interviews and focus groups in which questions and activities focused on the challenges faced by participants and the supports they relied on throughout the transition process. These young adults reported facing many challenges upon leaving care, including difficulty finding gainful and interesting employment, a lack of many basic life skills, difficulty finding a support network, and significant stigma in the community due to their background in care. These challenges led to problems in creating any security during this life stage, including obtaining both housing and employment. In the midst of these many challenges, participants consistently reported that they turned to other care alumni for both material and emotional support. This article seeks to develop a beginning understanding of the complex dynamics of navigating emerging adulthood following transition from institutional care in Ethiopia.
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