Legal
Many care leavers leave orphanages without birth certificates.
Legal
Law and Order
Although not the most obvious part of our work, in 2022 we have continued to provide significant legal support to care leavers. Many leave orphanages without birth certificates or other essential paperwork and court applications are required to produce ‘probable’ birth certificates. Others remain subject to court orders, often made without their knowledge, which have put them in the nominal care of siblings or other adults. These orders require a court hearing before they can be discharged.
Some care leavers find themselves caught up in historic criminal complaints arising out of their time in children’s homes. Too often they find themselves to be easy targets for law enforcement agencies and miscarriages of justice are common. Brighter Path provides legal support to young care leavers to ensure that they have access to proper legal advice during these investigations, something which is vitally important but rarely available through the state.
Further Reading

Moving House
In March we moved our main boys’ transition home to new premises in Colombo. The lease on our previous premises came to an end and this was the perfect opportunity …

Training Clothes Donation
Brighter Path provides regular support to the Vishaka Training Centre in Bandarawella. This is a home for young girls in the care system who have been unable to remain in …

Sports Equipment Donation
In January 2024 Brighter Path donated much needed sports equipment and games to a boys certified Home in the Kappetipola area. This home is a borstal or youth detention centre …