Can a single birthday change your entire life?
For most young people, turning 18 symbolises freedom, independence, and new opportunities. For unaccompanied refugee children, however, this milestone may also bring considerable uncertainty.
What happens when you become an adult but have no family by your side, no stable income, and no secure place to call home?
Adulthood Does Not Automatically Mean Independence
Many unaccompanied refugee children arrive in Bulgaria after difficult experiences and separation from their loved ones. While they are minors, they may receive specialised protection and support tailored to their age and needs.
In Bulgaria, turning 18 is a significant turning point for unaccompanied refugee youth. Although international protection or the right to remain in the country does not necessarily end upon reaching adulthood, the special child protection measures change. For some young people, this means having to leave their current accommodation and find new housing, employment, and support. Without adequate preparation, this transition may increase their vulnerability to social exclusion and exploitation.
But the need for safety and support does not disappear upon reaching adulthood.
Between Freedom and Uncertainty
Independent living requires skills in managing personal finances, finding employment and housing, communicating with institutions, and making important decisions.
For unaccompanied refugee youth, these responsibilities are often more challenging due to language barriers, the absence of family support, and limited financial resources.
Uncertainty may also affect their education when the need to earn an income forces them to prioritise work over their studies.
When Vulnerability Becomes a Risk
A lack of stable income, secure housing, and a supportive environment can increase the risk of exploitation.
Promises of easy employment, free accommodation, or quick earnings may sometimes conceal fraud, coercion, and other forms of violence.
It is therefore essential for young people to understand their rights, recognise potentially dangerous situations, and know where to seek help.
Preparation Begins Before the Eighteenth Birthday
The transition to independence should be a gradual process that includes developing practical skills, access to education, career guidance, and support in making informed decisions.
Through the SAVE – Speak Out Against Violence project, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) focuses on protecting unaccompanied children, preventing violence, and developing skills that strengthen their confidence and safety.
Because adulthood begins on a single day, but independence is built over time, with support and opportunities.
The project has received funding from the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme under Grant Agreement No. 101138279, within the framework of Daphne-CHILD with Eurochild and Terre des hommes.
Eurochild plays a leading role in the project. For more information, visit: https://eurochild.org/.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
