Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Introduction and Objectives for Topic 2

Community members and home visitors need to be aware of the skills that children, and orphans

and vulnerable children in particular, need in order to cope with life’s challenges. These special skills

are referred to as ‘Life Skills’. Life skills are broadly defined as skills or abilities we acquire, practise

and apply in our daily lives in order to deal constructively and positively with daily challenges.

These skills are personal skills (such as the ability to make decisions, solve problems and the ability

to negotiate with others) which help us to live effectively in a wider social environment.

Mentoring in life skills can be very helpful to orphans and vulnerable children who have lost the

opportunity to receive proper parental guidance, care and support.

Life skills should also be linked into general schooling for children, and vocational training for older

children and the youth. In this topic, life skills are discussed in the context of equipping orphans and

vulnerable children with the self-esteem and the personal and social skills that will help them cope

with their lives.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this topic, participants will be able to:

 Explain the meaning of life skills.

 Describe the importance of life skills for vulnerable children.

 Discuss different types of life skills.

 Discuss strategies on how to pass on life skills to OVC.

(^260) Unit 2, Module 4 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children