Social Behaviour change and life skills

According to Uganda standard and MoES defines Life skills as skills needed by an individual to operate effectively in society in an active and constructive way. The World Health Organization (1993) similarly define life skills as personal and social skills required for young people to function confidently and competently with themselves, with other people and with the wider community. Growing children are constantly baffled by and at odds with their inner selves and other people with whom they constantly interact; as well as the environment around them. As they develop into adolescents and adults, they need to acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to handle themselves and their environment successfully. Traditional education attempted to address this holistic view of human personality through the informal education system. The current education system, however, has tended to prioritise knowledge at the expense of other aspects of the human personality, believing that an increase in knowledge would automatically lead to positive changes in attitude and behaviour. At the same time, it was generally assumed that life skills and attitudes would continue to be imparted through family and community. This has not happened and the challenges and threats facing young people have increased over time leaving them more vulnerable. It has become increasingly clear that prioritisation of knowledge at the expense of other aspects of human personality is a very inadequate way of preparing young people for the complex nature and challenges of life. It is on this premise that life skills education became a necessary and critical part of the broader education picture. Future Bridge Initiative Uganda works with in school and out of school youth. At school level we work with school administrative to run life skills at school. Whereas for out of school youth, we work with local structure to reach the youth in the community and conduct various life skills sessions to enable young people make informed choices and be accountable to their actions.