Voices of Adolescents in Residential Care Facilities: A Case of Alpha Cottages

Abstract

The study explored the future aspirations of adolescents living in residential care institutions in 
an urban setting. Adolescents end up in these facilities due to numerous reasons that may include 
abuse, parental illness, abandonment, war, and natural disasters. Residential care institutions 
provide adolescents with a nurturing environment that enables them to tackle life challenges 
during adolescence, such as goal setting and identify formation. The purpose of the study was to 
explore the aspirations of adolescents in residential care institutions. The study was grounded on 
Self-Determination Theory (SDT), proposed by Deci and Ryan (1985) which assumes that people 
are intrinsically motivated to improve. The study adopted the qualitative approach to research and 
explored the voices of adolescents in residential care facilities using a case study research design. 
The target population for the study were adolescents staying at a residential care facility in 
Masvingo urban. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to solicit data from 15 adolescents 
within the 13-19 age range. The sample comprised 8 females and 7 males who were purposively 
sampled. It emerged that adolescents have access to career guidance and individual counselling 
services that enable them to plan for their future and pursue their goals. All the adolescent 
participants had access to education.  The study found that adolescents aspired to achieve 
independence and professional success. However, there was a lack of adequate resources for 
studying. The study recommends the improvement of infrastructure and provision of adequate 
resources to empower adolescents to pursue their goals and lead fulfilling lives.