LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA 7•
Tips for the facilitator- Be sure not to promote gender stereotypes in these exercises. Remember that girls and boys have
equal capabilites, but often do not share equal opportunities in society. Both sexes should be
treated equally and discouraged from thinking that girls and boys are “different” in specific ways. - We used cut out figures to make a paper chain (like a bunting), and children wrote on it why they
loved themselves. (CCDT, Mumbai) - Children had difficulty writing positive qualities. The facilitator helped and encouraged children to
do so. Some children could think of good skills but not qualities. (CCDT, PCI, Prerana, SFDRT) - “I like to think good things about myself and more when others add positive qualities to my plate.”
(A 12-year old street child from Salaam Baalak Trust, Delhi)
Review
For Older Children:
Sit in a circle and discuss the following:- Did you find it difficult to find out why you are happy to be a girl/boy?
- Many think it is boasting if you talk about your gifts. What do you think?
- Do the girl and boy outlines have similar or different ‘gifts?’ Why or why not?
- Were you surprised at what the other outline was like? Why did you feel so? Who influenced
you regarding what boys and girls are like or can do? What do you feel about what they said? - Would you like to add a quality or skill to the outline that you do not have now but you would
like to have? What are they?
For Younger Children:
Some general review questions on the activity: - What did they like or did not like about the activity?
- Did they have any suggestions for making it better?
Variation
For Younger Children
Conduct the same activity with the help of a facilitator and assistants. Divide the children into
same gender groups. Give a body outline of the same gender first and ask children to discuss what
they like about being a girl/boy. Next provide the body outline of the opposite gender and ask what
they like about being a boy/girl. After the qualities have been written down and pasted on the body
outline, ask the group to circle those qualities they think are very important and like a lot. Each
group presents its body outline to the other group.