Rebekka - Gadens Stemmer

I was placed in care as a child and spent much of my life in institutions, with rootlessness and loneliness as constant companions. My mother struggled with mental illness, and as a child it felt as though I had to atone for her sickness rather than receive the care and love she couldn't give.

On this tour, I will share my experiences of being a child of the system - of being moved from one children's home to another, never truly belonging anywhere. With the system as my primary caregiver, there were few positive expectations or loving encouragement to help me pursue my dreams. Education has always been a big dream of mine, but the label "placed in care" came with limited beliefs about what I could achieve, and I never got the chance to study. I struggled to trust either the system or other people, because I learned early that stability and good relationships weren't part of my reality.

When reality fails you, it's good to find joy in other worlds. I've done that through books and music, which have been my good friends throughout my life. When I let my fingers slide across the guitar strings, I feel at home within myself. Being a former care child is a life circumstance I've learned to dance with, and being happy despite it all is something I'm really good at. There are many organizations and communities for care-experienced people that have helped me in this dance, and over time I've put down small roots in those communities.