“It is Not Genuine Participation: It is Tokenism”: Young Women’s Participation in Their Transition from Care in Ethiopia

International research has shown the significance of care-leavers’ participation in planning for a successful transition from care to young adulthood. While most countries in the Global North have developed policies that allow care-leavers to plan their transition in partnership with a care worker, many countries in the Global South lack policy, programs, and engaged and skilled care workers. This qualitative description study thus aimed to describe how a small sample of Ethiopian female care-leavers from a single institution experience and perceive their participation in the care-leaving process. The study is informed by Lundy’s model of child participation and Elder’s life course theory. Fifteen care-leavers and one care worker participated in the study, involving qualitative interviews. Findings reveal the profound lack of mutual participation in preparation for leaving care, highlighting the need for better skilled care workers and guidelines for participative care-leaving plans.