Life Skills & Leadership Manual | Page 5 of 11(^)
Volunteers work with their counterpart(s) or other local partner(s) to ensure that the topics and
examples are culturally appropriate.
It is also important to adapt the materials to the developmental and cultural needs and priorities of the
participants. If the facilitators have not already done so, it is recommended that they conduct some sort
of participatory assessment method with the participants prior to implementing the course. This can be
done by using Participatory Analysis for Community Action training tools, found in the PACA Training
Manual [ICE No. M0053]. This will enable scenarios to be adapted to realities and the context of the
young people with whom the facilitators are working. While each young person is unique, factors that
may influence the relevance of the course may include gender, educational or school status, cultural
norms, whether they are from an urban or rural environment, parental expectations, or living in
especially challenging circumstances.
Adaptations may reflect appropriate names, content of scenarios, choice of language or jargon, cultural
expectations, gender considerations, monetary units, and so on. In addition, trainers may choose to
emphasize certain topics or examples and de-emphasize others. This need may arise as a way to
accommodate varying literacy levels, participants from particular sectors, and gender sensitivities.
Overview of the Life Skills and Leadership Course
Unit 1: Personal Development
Sessions Learning Objectives Time
- Me and My Assets
- After recalling a personal success and making a self-
assessment, participants will list at least four personal
strengths, or internal assets, and at least two assets they
would like to develop more. - Working with a partner, participants will identify and
share with the group at least three personal strengths
and assets from an abbreviated list of the 40
Developmental Assets.
- After recalling a personal success and making a self-
1 hour, 45
minutes- Stages of
Adolescence- After studying a chart of the Stages of Adolescent
Development and analyzing fictional situations,
participants will describe at least one indicator of
physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes they are
experiencing or will experience as they develop. - Using locally available materials and found objects, each
participant will create a poster that represents his or her
uniqueness and appreciation of himself or herself.
- After studying a chart of the Stages of Adolescent
2 hours- Building Self-
Confidence- After considering their own strengths, stage of
development, and personal concerns anonymously,
participants will identify at least two strategies for
learning, building skills, or identifying resources to
- After considering their own strengths, stage of
2 hours