LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 59
On the right side, under the happy face, write all
the things they liked and learned. On the left side,
under the sad face, write what they did not like.
Encourage the children to be specific in their
comments.
On the horizontal line, ask children to rate overall
how good the activity or workshop or program
was. The score of 1 is the lowest score, and 5 is the
highest score. The idea is that listing what children
did or did not like can provide an overall score for
the program. This works very well with children.
Tip: Give children small chits to write the overall
score. You can say they are “voting.” They are not
to show the chits to anyone. This “keep your
answer private” technique was used in the field
because children tend to copy the scores their
friends write. Open each chit and mark as written.
On top of the horizontal line, tick marks the scores
so that children can visually see how the group has
assessed the program/activity.
Below the horizontal line, ask children to suggest how
the program/activity or workshop could be improved.
Sharing of Experiences
Informal monitoring and evaluation of programs
can take place by sharing experiences across
projects. Peer learning is particularly valuable since
facilitation, children’s participation and the learning
of life skills is a slow, arduous process that needs
support. Sharing common problems,
brainstorming on possible solutions and creative
adaptation are all possible when children and
facilitators are provided a space for expression. A
powerful way to share experiences is through the
Marketplace, where partner organizations share the
materials they used and children develop and write
in the life skills sessions. At the FHI Regional
Workshop held in February 2004, partners shared
and learned from each other’s experiences related to
conducting life skills sessions with different groups
of children with different vulnerabilities.
Exchange visits and mentoring by more
experienced life skills coordinators are also
powerful ways to learn and share with peers and
can help to qualitatively strengthen programs.