Life Skills Education Toolkit

LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA 7•

Why children need life skills?

LIFE SKILLS ARE CRITICAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Life skills address the whole individual and
therefore can lead to overall, sustained life-long
behavior change.

The life skills approach asserts that if children and
young people are provided with the opportunity to
learn skills in a supportive environment, they can
confidently manage their lives in a positive manner
while serving as valuable resources to their friends,
families and community.

LIFE SKILLS LEAD TO BEHAVIOR CHANGE

1. Knowledge is Not Enough

Experience indicates that building awareness and

providing knowledge is not enough to influence

behavior. Although people may understand risk,

they may not make rational decisions to change

their behavior to reduce these risks. We also know

that while any change in behavior is difficult,

changing sexual behavior, risk behavior or coping

behavior is especially difficult.

Information

Change in

behavior

I know may risk, so will I change?

2. Knowledge Must Impact Attitudes and Values to Change Behavior

Life skills are one approach that changes attitudes and values to affect behavior.

Information + Life Skills

Knowledge (applied)

Change in Behavior

Stronger Me

I know my risk

I know HOW to manage my risk

I am confident

I am in control

I can meet challenges

I can learn and work with

others

Better health

Safe lifestyles

Empowerment

Supportive environment