Tusla seeking carers to provide supported lodgings for separated children

Tusla is seeking carers to provide supported lodgings for separated children seeking international protection.

This year there has been a significant increase in arrivals, which means the need for carers providing supported lodgings has never been greater. Here, 19-year-old Nene Hawa Barry tells how supported lodgings gave her a home and a family at a time of extreme vulnerability.

When you don’t have a family of your own, Christmas can be a tough time especially if you’re a young person new to the country, who has fled their homeland in fear for their life.

Nene Hawa Barry came to Ireland in 2020 from Guinea, in West Africa.

Nene was forced to leave her country and family, due to circumstances that left her traumatised and extremely vulnerable. When she arrived in Ireland she was also alone, unable to speak English, and frightened of what lay ahead.

Thanks to Tusla, though, things are a lot brighter now and it looks like she has a whole extended Irish family to enjoy the festivities with.

Nene, who lives in Bray, Co. Wicklow, and is a Leaving Cert pupil in St Kilian’s Community School, found her new Irish family when she was placed in supported lodgings with them shortly after her arrival.

The supported lodgings service provides accommodation to young people, aged 16-18 years, who are out of home and are not yet ready to live independently. It’s a way to give young people emotional support and help develop independent living skills in a safe environment.

Nene explained: ‘I didn’t have a home, but I have one now.’ Speaking about her carers, who have since retired from the great work they did, she added: "They make it feel like it’s your home. We ate together, we could talk, it’s just like family."

Nene is now living in rented accommodation but continues to stay in touch with the carers, who have moved house.

‘I know all their kids and grandkids. I had a really lovely experience with them. I saw them a month ago and will be going to their new house for a sleepover soon.’

It’s hard to reconcile the bubbly personality of Nene with that of the young woman who came here just two years ago.

"The first year was really hard. I didn’t know what was going on. I was asking myself: 'What am I doing here?' I found Bray to be so far away. I had no friends. I felt so lost and a little bit frightened, but the family made me feel comfortable."

Thanks to the supportive structure put in place by her carers, with whom she stayed for 18 months, Nene has real hopes for the future.

Speaking excellent English and already fluent in French, she is studying six Higher Level subjects for the Leaving Cert and hopes to study accountancy in UCD or DCU. She also hopes to stay in Ireland.

Nene continued: "I feel really comfortable here. I feel loved, and I want to give back to this country what it gave to me."

Tusla is currently caring for 184 unaccompanied minors, mainly from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Any adult over 25 years of age can apply to become a supported lodgings provider, whether they are single, married, co-habiting, in a same sex relationship, employed, unemployed or retired. Homeowners and those renting accommodation can also apply.

The prospective provider must agree to the assessment process, which involves Garda checks, medicals, references, to see if they are suitable for supported lodgings. The assessment also takes into account a person’s lifestyle and how a young person might fit into it.

But all those checks are worth it, because not alone do providers offer a new beginning to those fleeing strife, our own economy also benefits from the fresh talent that is subsequently introduced to our workforce.

Nene's carers were also supporting two young people from Somalia, who Nene is still in touch with. In fact, one of them is in the same rented accommodation that she herself lives in.

Support also came from Tusla-funded counselling that helped Nene come to terms with her terrible ordeal in Guinea, and with missing her family and adjusting to a new culture in Ireland.

‘"The counselling is really helpful. I had lost my self-confidence, but it makes me believe in myself. I got lots of support from Tusla. They got me a school, they organised online classes in English, the counselling, and they got me into a gym," concluded Nene.

The future is looking even brighter as Nene’s aftercare worker is helping her with the paperwork to bring her family here from Guinea.

They started the process last year, so, maybe next Christmas, Nene will spend the festive season with her own family, mum Mariama and Nene’s two little sisters and brother.

As far as Christmas presents go, it doesn’t get better than that.

By becoming part of Tusla’s supported lodgings network, you can make just as much of a difference in the life of a young person by opening your heart and your door to those fleeing violence and persecution. Anyone interested in supporting separated children in care should visit fostering.ie for details.

Tusla is a child and family agency which was was established in 2014 and is the dedicated State agency responsible for improving well-being and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.