8•PART TWO: FACILITATOR’S GUIDE
Attitudes and values influence our behavior. Life skills
activities provide opportunities to understand and
assimilate information and to reflect on one’s beliefs
and attitudes. An increased sense of competence is
cultivated by practicing skills. These efforts, when
encouraged in a supportive environment, lead to
changes in behavior. Such behavior change may be
learned in specific contexts (such as street children
learning how to have safe sex), but the skills can also
be adapted and applied to many other contexts—now and in the future. For example, a child who has
learned to say no to steal can learn to be assertive in
many other situations as well.- Vulnerable Children and Children in Difficult
Circumstances Especially Need Help
Vulnerable children such as street children, children
of sex workers and children infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS are especially at risk. Life skills are
essential to reduce risk and cope with threatening
and difficult situations.
Children and young people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS have particular needs and problems. A
Life Skills Education Program can be tailored to
address these varied needs—such as a street child
who needs to resist peer pressure, a child whose
parent has died of HIV/AIDS needs to cope with
various emotions accompanied with loss, or a child
of a sex worker who must learn how to identify a
potentially exploitative situation.- Gender Can Influence Risk and
Risk Behavior
Girls are especially at risk and need to be
empowered to enable them to make safe choices.
Boys need to learn about responsible behavior and
develop a sense of male identity that does not
include sexual risk taking. Gender is especially
important in determining sexual behavior. Life
skills address gender issues to reduce risk and
promote safe behavior.
Risk/Problems How Life Skills Help
Situation is risky/difficult to cope I know and understand my risk/problem
Low self-esteem I believe I can do something about it
Cannot express feelings I can express what I feel
Poor communication I can relate to others
Poor critical thinking I think before I act
Poor decision making I decide what is safe and what makes me happy
Influenced by peers I can say no
Do not know safe/coping behavior I act in a way that I am always safe and can cope
Am only concerned about myself I help others
Do not know where to go for help I know where to find and get support when needed