Abstract
Background Life skills prepare teenagers to face challenges in daily life. This study describes a novel art based life skills training programme that takes vulnerabilities and available opportunities for individual participant into account, to promote health of adolescents in resource poor settings. Methods A 2 hour session with two drawing activities followed by facilitated discussion was conducted for 42 students aging 13 to 16 years at a rural school. Drawings of the students were observed and themes were identified. Observation memos were documented during discussions and drawing activities. Anonymous written Feedback obtained at the end was analyzed thematically and triangulated with observations. Results Enthusiastic participation across all age groups was observed. The programme was described as interesting, clear and motivating. Students getting an understanding on applicability of life skills to overcome their personal challenges were observed during discussion and through feedback. Conclution The programme requires minimum resources and can provide an individualized active life skill learning opportunity to adolescents in low resource settings. Long term outcomes need to be assessed objectively.
Highlights
Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [1]
How to effectively deliver a life skill training programme, how to reach the hard to reach, socially disadvantaged populations, whether these programmes can relate to realistic situations and address the vulnerabilities and risks faced by a particular participant, whether there are practical opportunities to practice the new skills and what values should be taught through life skills education are key challenges that need to be evaluated and addressed when planning a life skills education programme [5]
This paper describes a novel programme where an art based life skills teaching method that takes into account the vulnerabilities of and opportunities available for individual participants, was used for health promotion of adolescents in a resource poor setting
Summary
Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life [1]. In South Asia, Life skills are taught in schools as a stand-alone curriculum (Sri Lanka) or integrated to existing curriculum (Nepal’s health curriculum) or as an extra-curricular activity (Pakistan) or as a combined approach (Indian adolescent education programme) [5]. A universal method for evaluating success of life skills teaching programmes is not available. Life skills education for adolescents has been incorporated to curriculums and health promotion programmes in several countries including Sri Lanka. A uniformly recognized evidence based method for teaching life skills is not available. A novel art based life skills teaching method that takes into account the vulnerabilities of and opportunities available for individual participants, was used for health promotion of adolescents in a resource poor setting
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