U.S. Agency for International Development
Amercian Embassy Tel : 91-11-241 98000
Chanakyapuri Fax : 91-11-
New Delhi 110 021 http://www.usaid.gov/inFOREWORD
Life Skills Education is an important component of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment
interventions with children and adolescents. Family Health International (FHI) has developed a
Life Skills Education (LSE) toolkit under the IMPACT project and supported by the United
State Agency for International Development (USAID). The toolkit aims to address the growing
need for strengthening delivery of HIV prevention messages to adolescent learners and teachers.
The toolkit is informed by rich experiences from 30 pilot projects that were initiated under the
IMPACT project in six states and one union territory in India. Teaching children infected or
affected by HIV/AIDS requires innovative approaches for critical skills such as coping and
caring skills. Through the toolkit, teachers, school administrators and parents will get the
neccessary skills in facilitating a learning environment that will help prepare children and
adolescents strengthen their response to the various challenges in life.
FHI has taken the initiative of developing this toolkit with contributions made by various
national and international agencies at different stages of development. I would like to thank the
National OVC Task Force including UNICEF, Minstry of Women and Child Development,
NACO and India HIV/AIDS Alliance for reviewing the toolkit.
The third phase of the National AIDS Control Program (2006-2011) envisages a scale-up of
interventions addressing children and adolescents in India. I hope the toolkit would find wide
acceptance as a support to the national program and to build a stronger future of the children in
India.
Robert Clay
Director
Office of Population, Health and Nutrition
USAID/India