LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA 9•
- Young people are especially at risk of HIV
and need to know how to lead positive and
responsible lifestyles.
In a modern, complex world bombarded by media
and other influences, young people are especially at
risk for getting infected with HIV infection. Most
new STI/HIV infections are among young people.
Young people need to have information to behave
in ways that prevent risky behavior and reduce their
vulnerability to acquiring STI/HIV. They also need
to learn how to lead healthy lives so that they can
become valued and responsible members of their
families and communities. Young people living in
slums and in marginalized communities are
especially vulnerable because they lack knowledge,
have poor access to services and do not know how
to reduce their vulnerability. Poverty and lack of
employment opportunities also can contribute to
increasing the vulnerability towards HIV infection.
Life skills help young people become mature
thinkers, build positive relationships, take
responsibility and cope with stress. Life skills enable
them to deal effectively with the demands and
challenges of everyday life and lay the foundation
for responsible adult social behavior.
(^6) Source: Information Series on School Health Document 9, SKILLS FOR HEALTH, Pg. 30. (WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF,
THE WORLD BANK 2000).
- Lessons and activities offer a good balance
of knowledge combined with discussions on
attitudes, values and life skills. - Programs are built around the needs of
young people. - Gender sensitivity (addressing the
differences between boys and girls) is an
essential part of the program. - Participatory and active teaching-learning
methods are used to ensure that young
people participate instead of being merely
passive recipients.
Research Evidence for Life skills:
Three Key Findings^6- Education that concentrates on developing
skills for making healthy choices in life in
addition to imparting health-related
knowledge, attitudes, values, services and
support is more likely to produce desired
outcomes; - Skill development is more likely to result in
the desired healthy behavior when
practicing the skill is tied to the content of a
specific health behavior or health decision,
such as reducing risky behavior related to
HIV/AIDS; and - The most effective method of skill
development is learning by doing, by
involving people in active, participatory,
learning experiences rather than
passive ones.
LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TRADITIONAL
INFORMATION BASED PROGRAMS
- Life Skills Education Programs target changes
in specific behaviors; activities go beyond
changing knowledge, attitudes and values.