Adolescence, a vital stage of growth and development, marks the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. It is characterized by rapid physiological changes and psychosocial maturation. Adolescence is also the stage when young people extend their relationships beyond parents and family and are intensely influenced by their peers and the outside world in general. As adolescents mature cognitively, their mental process becomes more analytical. They are now capable of abstract thinking, better articulation and of developing an independent ideology.
These are truly the years of creativity, idealism, buoyancy and a spirit of adventure. But these are also the years of experimentation and risk-taking, of giving in to negative peer pressure, of taking uninformed decisions on crucial issues, especially relating to their bodies and their sexuality. Adolescence is thus a turning point in one’s life, a period of increased potential but also one of greater vulnerability.
Life skills are behaviours that enable individuals to adapt and deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Life skill development is a life-long process that helps individuals grow and mature. The core Life Skills as laid down by World Health Organization (WHO) are:
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Decision making
- Problem Solving
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal relationship
- Coping with stress
- Coping with emotion
Based on the impact of our earlier experiences of conducting life skills training with the communities in our work are in Ahmedabad, AWAG has recently re-embarked on these interventions with youth from various areas in Ahmedabad.
The above topics are gradually woven into the programme as per the demands of the pace and profile of the participants.
A number of youth have gone through the trainings and we intend to continue our efforts along the same lines in the coming months.