About us
Care Leavers' Advocacy Network is South Asia's first network dedicated to empowering care leavers in India as they transition from child care institutions to independent living. Through education access, skill development, employability support, psychosocial care, and advocacy, we help young people thrive with dignity and opportunity.
Dignity. Opportunity. Independence.
Our story
When we left child care institutions at 18, we struggled alone. No one truly understood what we were going through or guided us in navigating adulthood without family support. We felt invisible, isolated, and unprepared.
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A few of us connected and began sharing our experiences. In those conversations, we discovered strength in each other. Together, we presented our challenges in an aftercare study conducted by Udayan Care, which was later shared with Mr. Manish Sisodia, the then Minister of Education, Delhi. From this effort, the idea of the Care Leavers’ Advocacy Network (CLAN) emerged, the first network in South Asia built by care leavers for care leavers.
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We began as a peer support community, standing beside fellow care leavers and advocating for their needs in national and international forums. But we soon realised that sharing alone was not enough. We needed to act by creating opportunities and building systems of support for others like us.
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Today, CLAN empowers care leavers across India through education, employability, psychosocial support, and advocacy. We exist to ensure that no young person leaving care has to walk this journey alone again.
Meet the team
The Founders
Pooja Udayan
Co-founder
"As a care-experienced youth myself, I continue to drive CLAN with the conviction that no young person transitioning out of a child care institution should ever have to walk alone while building their future."
Muskan
Co-founder
"I am motivated by the need to reclaim our identity as care leavers and to show that our journeys do not define our limits. For me, it is about transforming struggle into growth and turning isolation into empowerment."
Board of Trustees
Pooja Udayan
Managing Trustee
"As a care-experienced youth myself, I continue to drive CLAN with the conviction that no young person transitioning out of a child care institution should ever have to walk alone while building their future."
Advisory Council
Vijay Venugopalan
Advisor
"I’m excited to solve one of India’s biggest challenges of protecting the lives and dignity of youth leaving child care institutions and helping them integrate into society and provide value."
Team Members
Shreya Sharma
Program Strategy Consultant
“I’ve been where the care leavers are, confused, unsure, and struggling to find the right path. That’s why what began as a small effort to support others quickly turned into a passion. Helping these talented young people explore their potential and build their careers has given me purpose and a profound sense of connection."
