The aim of this qualitative study was to unveil the reality in the transition process of youth from family- oriented care to adulthood using life course approach. The comparative study was carried out in the SOS children villages in both Lagos, Nigeria, and Bicesse, Portugal, where data for the study were gathered through audio-recorded and phone calls interviews. Organisational documents and data collected were analysed using content analysis to identify the emerging themes, similarities and differences in the nexus of transition process from care to adulthood. Three dimensions emerged from the 12 participants’ answers to the interview questions, these include the past life in shaping transition, the present life in shaping the future, and the projected pathways of future based on the possibility of the past life and the present life. Two types of childhood typologies were identified. The study findings have implication for family-oriented care organisations. The need for international collaboration for national exchange of research, and networking among family-oriented care organisations will go a long way to improve the transition process of youth towards holistic development and an international successful outcome. Furthermore, this can impact state policies and global policy development towards the globalisation of transition from care to adulthood. Table of contents