5 minute read
Generation Never Give Up Network: Empowering Care Leavers in Sri Lanka
By Nimali Kumari, Co-founder of GNGN
Photo: Nimali Kumari’s archive
My name is Nimali Kumari, commonly known as Nimmu. I am a care leaver from Sri Lanka who established and piloted a youth group called the Generation Never Give Up Network, which is Asia's first Care Leavers Network. The GNG Network provides vital services to Sri Lankan care leavers.
In Sri Lanka, children in childcare institutions are legally required to leave their care homes by the age of 18. However, there is no effective mechanism in place to support these youths. In response, the Generation Never Give Up Network (GNGN) was founded in 2017 with the support of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka.
The GNGN is a peer support network designed to advocate for and support youth who have transitioned from alternative care and face new vulnerabilities. Currently over 500+ care leavers are in member list.
The GNGN Resource Center plays a crucial role in maximizing support for care leavers. The team is diligently working to develop effective mechanisms to provide comprehensive support, including awareness programs in other Child Care Institutions (CCIs). The resource center is coordinated by a dedicated individual who oversees events.
GNGN collaborates closely with the Department of Probation and Child Care Services in all nine provinces. Key activities run by GNGN include:
• Providing scholarships for care leavers’ higher education
• Offering legal support
• Delivering counselling services
• Creating job opportunities
• Maintaining a job bank
Additionally, GNGN members participate in various awareness sessions, empowering teenagers and preparing them for reintegration into society.
I have actively participated in many of these sessions, sharing my life journey as someone who grew up in a CCI.
As a care leaver, I have faced numerous challenges, particularly in securing housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, I organized online classes for children living in CCIs in collaboration with the Edu4EverChild charity foundation, which was run by a volunteer youth team. Over 32 teachers taught 45 subjects for more than two years, making it a successful initiative.
During this time, I shared my life story on my personal Facebook page, which went viral across the country. This led to invitations to appear on various leading TV channels, newspapers, and social media platforms, where I spoke about the feelings, needs, and attention points of children living in CCIs, particularly focusing on care leavers.
Gathering of the GNGN members
As a result, the topic of care leavers gained significant attention, and GNGN was recognized and registered as a charity in that period of time. We began advocating for issues faced by care leavers, including housing, birth certificate, and national identity card challenges. We were even able to participate in the Parliament Oversight Committee to address these issues.
The outcome of these initiatives was a success. After five years of sustained advocacy, the government agreed to remove the clause regarding parental marital status from birth certificates—a change that significantly benefited care leavers
In Sri Lankan culture, the marital status of parents can carry social stigma, and care leavers often face discrimination or social exclusion when their backgrounds are not clearly or positively documented. Most birth certificates for care leavers previously stated “Not Married” under parental marital status, making it uncomfortable and even distressing for them to use their birth certificates in everyday matters. This issue becomes particularly problematic when applying to educational institutions or seeking employment, as many of these entities require documentation of family background. Blank fields or stigmatizing remarks in the birth certificate can create additional barriers to access.
I continue to raise awareness about care leavers’ needs and rights through social media. Personally, I feel fortunate to have married a wonderful person whose family respects my past and present. In October 2023, I was gifted a temporary house to live in with my husband until I can build my own home. The kindness of others continues to support me and fellow care leavers in achieving a better future.
In my home, many care leavers gather every weekend to live as a family. We cook together, celebrate birthdays, and provide a place for them to stay during holidays. My home is always open to care leavers.
Short about Nimmu
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Advertising, and Mass Communication at NIILM University, Haryana. Additionally, I hold diplomas in Criminal Investigation and Criminal Psychology from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka, as well as a special certification in Social Science from the Open University of Sri Lanka. My ambition is to become a Crime Reporter and continue the impactful work of the GNG Network. Currently, I serve as a Foster Care Project Coordinator at Their Future Today.
In 2024, I co-founded the second professional care leavers network in Sri Lanka, called the New Horizon Professional Care Leavers Network.
