Life Skills Education Toolkit

LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 11

• The right kind of information, at the right time, provided in the right way.
  For example: Young girls and boys receive correct information in simple language
  using active learning methods about how older men can lure them into sex and
  why it is important to have safe sex.
  For example: Young boys and girls may know that abstaining from sex is
  important, but may not have the skills to resist pressure or avoid a risky
  situation, making it difficult for him/her to put knowledge into practice. If s/he is
  taught skills such as how to:


• Seek help if an adult is harassing him/her for sex.


• Negotiate with a boyfriend or girlfriend who is pressurizing for sex (without
  losing the friendship).


• Persuade parents not to enter into marriage at a young age.
  ...Then s/he is better able to abstain from sex or avoid being enticed into
  unsafe sexual situations.
  Even if young people have the information and the skills to implement
  information, they still need to feel motivated to change behavior. Motivation to
  lessen risk comes from different sources:


• Friends or family (through praise, encouragement and fostering a sense of
  belonging).


• A religious or support group.


• Self-motivation, such as developing goals and understanding how our values
  affect behavior.


• A strong moral code within family or community.


• Support from trusted adults such as health workers, teachers.


• Exposure to the consequences of risks, such as a friend or family member
  sick or dying from HIV/AIDS.
  Supportive external influences of peers, family, school, community, society as a
  whole, cultural and religious influences, media, government policy and law;
  peers who have successfully moved on to provide excellent supportive
  environments through understanding and experience sharing.

Information + skills + motivation + supportive environment = safer, healthy choices

Information PLUS

Life skills or the

ability to act PLUS

Motivation PLUS

A supportive

environment