"You need to go into various schools and get students talking" said a student during the Face It 1999, a workshop held with about 90 students from 20 prestigious schools in Dehradun, to address issues and struggles faced by the youth. This was said in context of solutions to address their struggles.

"We NEVER talk about Real Life issues" he affirmed. Others agreed too.

Thus began the Lifeskills curriculum (LSC) which since 1999 has been constantly evolving to achieve what it set out to: Empower students to make value based choices. The mandate given by the students in '99 has translated into the Lifeskills Curriculum (LSC).

The curriculum, ranging from short 6 week courses to an extensive 2 Year course covers an array of issues; from Relationships, Choices, Self - Esteem, Feelings,  to ones relating to Sexual Health

The purpose of the course is Self Empowerment of students to make value based choices in life. To build relationship with students through modeling love and care.

   We realize that the students are hurting. In different areas of life, there is big confusion, huge misconceptions and distorted perspectives when it comes to making choices .

  Often, many end up in a mess. There needed to be a way in which the students could Empower themselves to make Right choices. And that can happen when they have already worked out their perspectives! The LSC achieves the same.

Self empowerment being the goal, each session is structured in a way that opens up the issue being worked out. The classes are highly interactive with students encouraged to share their perspectives and learn from each others perspectives. The Lifeskills facilitator moderates the class and ensures that relevant perspectives are being highlighted, challenging students to think.

The facilitator brings in Facts and logical truths into the discussion giving students food for thought.

Role-plays, activities, games and group work form a key part of the LSC making it to be oriented towards students, allowing for fun and excitement.

Classes are held once a week with the same class, giving students time to think through the perspectives they have been challenged with.

  Often, the facilitator gives them a 'life assignment' for the week.It is just amazing the way this format works, as we have learnt insightful things from the students. The method of the LSC makes it highly dynamic and ever evolving,  providing opportunities for the facilitators to learn and adapt.

The Lifeskills facilitators are also trained in non directive counseling. As they build relationships and trust with the students, many choose to share their personal struggles.

  There is a glaring need for student friendly and approachable people from whom students can seek counseling during tough times. Ideally parents should be the ones. But since parents in our culuture don't see its relevance, we are left as band-aids to cover up and minister to the hurts and wounds that our young boys and girls have suffered.

  The facilitators, through teaching in class, are able to build credibility and trust, often taking months, in some cases, years to come and 'Talk'. One of the main ways in which students Empower themselves is during these one on one sessions.

  The facilitators spend a large amount of time 'hanging out' in the fields during the breaks and the staff room during free periods, making their availability known to the students. The load of counseling is huge. More and more students (thankfully!) are choosing to talk!

We have/had Lifeskills curriculum in the following schools:

1.The Doon School

2.St. Josephs Academy

3.Convent of Jesus and Mary

4.Summer Valley

5.Doon International

6.Hilton’s School

7.Welham Boy’s

8.Scholars Home

9.Children’s Academy

10.Raja Ram Mohan Roy

11.Hopetown Girls School

12.Olympus High

  School and group specific workshops are designed for schools and groups to train or address specific relevant issues such as student leadership, adolescent issues, vision, basics of counseling, AIDS, parenting, addictions etc.

  These may be in the form of camps, seminars, a series of evening meetings, or mini- workshops according to pre-determined goals and objectives. Participation and interaction are key components of all the workshops with a view to ownership and practice of relevant skills and perspectives.

  Nearly a hundred workshops have been held so far, some of which are:

Peer educators training for Youth Against AIDS - Pune,

K.V. Principals workshop on Values- Dehradun

WBS Prefects workshop - Rishikesh

Doon School parents workshop - Dehradun

Induction Camp for new students of Scindia School - Gwalior

Village Health workers training in AIDS for World Vision India - Kotdwar

College Preparation for class 12 students, Jindal Modern School-Hissar