Life Skills-Based Education for Girls

As winter whispered its arrival, a symphony of learning unfolded at our schools, ready to guide our students through the challenges and triumphs that lay ahead. In a world where young people are not provided with information regarding their bodies, health, and well-being, our LSBE program supports our students in accessing this information within a safe space. 

Through our curriculum, we address crucial topics such as child rights, women's rights, personal hygiene, child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention, mental health, animal rights, understanding of Nikkah Nama, financial literacy, reproductive health, financial literacy, interpersonal skills, digital safety, and more.

Since our last report, our LSBE program has seen significant progress in curriculum development and implementation. The curriculum for Grades 1 and 2 has been successfully completed and integrated into our classrooms, and we are now focused on reviewing the curriculum for Grades 3 to 6, while simultaneously developing the curriculum for Grades 7 and 8. The LSBE program expansion plan for Grades 3 to 8 is underway, and we anticipate being fully prepared to implement the curriculum by the next academic term.

Our teachers are actively engaged in weekly coordination meetings with the LSBE lead to ensure the effective implementation of the program and the lesson plans. These meetings focus on discussing lesson plans centered around activity-based learning – a crucial part of LSBE. By prioritizing hands-on practical learning, our students are engaged in an educational experience that instills vital life skills. 

In addition to this, teachers receive monthly professional development workshops. Here are some of the themes explored in our LSBE classes, encompassing Life and Livelihood, Civic Understanding, Knowing Myself, Physical Well-being, and Emotional Well-being:

Grade 1: Table manners, national flags of other South Asian countries, identifying and regulating emotions, mindfulness, and personal well-being.

Grade 2: Nutrition, identifying and regulating emotions, empathy, kindness, goal setting, balanced lifestyle, and digital literacy.

Grade 3: Cleaning techniques, cooking safety, mindful environmentalism, empathy, regulating conflicting emotions, societal norms, and environmental responsibility.

Grade 4: Financial literacy, mindful environmentalism, rules and laws (vandalism and littering), communication skills, empathy, and how to be a good citizen.

Grade 5: Home safety, peer pressure, mindful environmentalism, rules and laws (vandalism and littering), effective communication and team building, empathy, and welfare.

Grade 6: Self-confidence, digital safety, financial literacy, practical life skills, and human rights.

In November 2023, Zindagi Trust, in collaboration with Aahung, organized an open house event at Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls School, raising awareness about our LSBE program spanning across the spheres of reproductive health, abuse prevention, and the management skills with which it is necessary to equip children and adolescents as they grow. Visitors took a keen interest in the LSBE walk-through, met students one-on-one, and left inspired to raise their voices on gender issues with renewed focus and resolve.

In parallel to our academic endeavors, our collaborations with Right to Play enriched our students' learning experience by implementing a dynamic range of play-based activities for our collaboration, engaging students from grades 6 to 8. Spanning from January to December 2023, our partnership brought forth a year-long series of enriching experiences. Facilitated by our LSBE teachers, these activities included sports events, fostering values of teamwork, empathy, and kindness, further reinforcing the principles of LSBE.

As the new year approached, we initiated the execution of the Happiness Project, a social and emotional learning program designed to foster happiness among children and young people, in collaboration with Walls at our schools, targeting grades 3 to 5. The Happiness Project involves group activities, helping them build social and emotional skills. The project aligns with the LSBE goals, emphasizing themes such as critical thinking, empathy, emotional well-being, kindness, interpersonal skills, and community building. 

Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower young minds, nurture essential life skills, and foster a culture of lifelong learning. With each lesson taught and each challenge overcome, we move closer to our vision of a future where every child is empowered to reach their full potential. 

Life Skills Based Education isn't just a program — it's a promise. A promise to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in life. Thank you for standing by us, and we hope you will continue to support us on this journey.