The gap between all the frameworks, action plans, strategies, policies, and legislation that we use to write our promises to children and the lived experience of children – is a chasm. Perhaps there is no greater example of this chasm than the lived experience of children and youth growing up in state care. Their voices fill that void and the echo of Janusz Korczak can be heard clearly in their call to action. “It’s not rocket science” they have said, “just hard to do.”
The key is listening and relationship.