LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA 3•
children, particularly street children, who cannot
benefit from the full program. This continues to
be a challenge, but it is also important to note that
learning life skills and the efforts of the facilitator
in even a few life skills sessions can and does make
a difference in changing behaviors, no matter how
small the change may be.
Life skills learned and practiced in safe
surroundings must be transferred and connected
to real-life situations. Many of the Linking
Learning to Life Activities help inform children,
create awareness about their surroundings or
make them curious to find out what family,
friends and community feel and think on various
issues. The children discuss, plan or take action
regarding any skill or change in behavior they
would like to attempt before the next session and
their friends or ‘buddies’ are encouraged to
help them.
The sessions have been structured in such a way
that the children are encouraged to try out their
new skills in real life situations right from the
beginning of the Life Skills Education Program.
The children get an opportunity to test the skills
they have already learned and gradually add on
more new skills. This process helps them to
confidently use the new behavior learned. The
facilitator guides the children as they reflect and
review their new skills, learn from mistakes and do
things better the next time. Linking Learning to
Life is presented in every session, and it is strongly
recommended that the facilitators discuss, follow
up and review with the children what new behavior
they were able (or found it difficult) to practice in
the next sessions. The time required for these
activities varies and some activities may be as long
as an hour.Linking Learning to Life follows a simple six step
methodology: (1) understanding the problem
(2) finding out more (3) discussing results
(4) planning action (5) taking action and finally
(6) reviewing and improving next time. (See details
regarding the approach in the Facilitator’s Guide)Many of the Linking Learning to Life activities
require that facilitators dialogue with the wider
community, other people and available services, so
that they can support children in their attempts to
understand themselves and the community better.
By linking learning to life, the Life Skills Education
Program is not confined to the training but also
begins to affect the lives that children live.Throughout the toolkit, there are boxes that offer
tips and experience from the field. The Life skills
education toolkit has been tested with
organizations throughout India, and the boxes
offer valuable suggestions for practice.Life skills empower children. Its active learning
methods ensure that children enjoy the activities
while they learn to lead safe, healthy and
happy lives.