ASPIRATIONS AND BELONGING: TOUCHSTONES FOR THE JOURNEY

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of belonging as it relates to the transitional experience of young people attempting to realize their educational aspirations. The Voyager Project is a social innovation program that sees peers who grew up in government care reach out to and mentor other young people in and from care, with the objective of encouraging them to pursue their educational aspirations. A theoretical examination of the concept of belonging and affiliation are woven together with reflections by the program participants on their experiential knowledge. Implications for emancipatory practice methods are explored.