Life Skills Education Toolkit

LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA 5•

Build a Supportive Environment Inside
(Learning Sessions) and Outside
(Surrounding Community)

Life skills have to be practiced and reinforced.
Educators and facilitators must build trust and
provide a non-threatening environment. Because
life skills leads to behavior change in real life
situations, the surrounding community also needs
to be sensitized so that they can reinforce the
positive behavior of children.

A FRAMEWORK FOR LIFE SKILLS

This toolkit uses the life skills definition by World Health

Organization (WHO) for its guiding framework. The

practice of these life skills leads to behavior change.

The toolkit is also shaped by two additional factors:

(1) The complexity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and

the need to address both prevention and care, and

(2) The need to address the varied and diverse

needs of children who are vulnerable, affected and

infected by HIV/AIDS.

Types of Life Skills

Communication and

interpersonal skills

Decision making and

critical thinking skills

Coping and self-management

skills

• Interpersonal Communication Skills
  
  
  • Verbal/nonverbal
    communication
  
  
  • Active listening-Expressing
    feelings, giving feedback
    (without blaming) and receiving
    feedback
  
  
  • Negotiation
  
  
  • Negotiation and conflict
    management
  
  
  • Assertiveness skills
  
  
  • Refusal skills
  
  
  
  


• Empathy Building
  
  
  • Ability to listen, understand
    another’s needs and
    circumstances and express
    that understanding
  
  
  
  


• Cooperation and Teamwork
  
  
  • Expressing respect for others’
    contributions and different styles
  
  
  • Assessing one’s own abilities
    and contributing to the group
  
  
  
  


• Advocacy Skills
  
  
  • Influencing skills and
    persuasion
  
  
  • Networking and motivation
    skills
    
    
    • Decision-making/
      Problem-solving Skills
      
      
      • Information-gathering
        skills
      
      
      • Evaluating future
        consequences of present
        actions for self and others
      
      
      • Determining alternative
        solutions to problems
      
      
      • Using analysis skills to
        determine the influence
        of values and attitudes
        about self and others
      
      
      
      
    
    
    • Critical Thinking Skills
      
      
      • Analyzing peer and media
        influences
      
      
      • Analyzing attitudes,
        values, social norms,
        beliefs and factors
        affecting them
      
      
      • Identifying relevant
        information and sources
        of information
        
        
        • Skills for increasing personal
          confidence and ability to
          assume control, take
          responsibility, make a
          difference or bring about
          change
          
          
          • Building self-esteem/
            confidence
          
          
          • Creating self-awareness
            skills, including awareness
            of rights, influences,
            values, attitudes,
            strengths and weaknesses
          
          
          • Setting goals
          
          
          • Self-evaluation/self-
            assessment
            self-monitoring skills
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Skills for Managing Feelings
          
          
          • Managing anger
          
          
          • Dealing with grief and
            anxiety
          
          
          • Coping with loss, abuse
            and trauma
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Skills for Managing Stress
          
          
          • Time management
          
          
          • Positive thinking
          
          
          • Relaxation techniques