Life Skills and Peer Education for Chadian Youth

In many communities in Chad, girls and young women face structural challenges that limit their opportunities and increase their vulnerability to violence. Strengthening economic autonomy is one of the approaches Blue Cross Chad uses to address these challenges in a practical and sustainable way.

In mid-December, Blue Cross Chad organized a skills-based activity with girls and women from local CVC clubs, focusing on income-generating activities (AGR). During the sessions, participants learned how to make decorated headscarves embellished with beads, a craft that can be developed into a small source of income.

 Skills, exchange, and safe spaces

Beyond the practical aspect, the activity created a space for exchange and mutual learning. Participants worked together, shared experiences, and supported one another in a setting designed to be respectful and inclusive. Such spaces are particularly important in contexts where opportunities for open discussion and collective learning are limited.

 Economic autonomy as a preventive approach

By acquiring practical skills, girls and women can improve their economic prospects and strengthen their position within their households and communities. This form of empowerment contributes to broader efforts to prevent violence by reducing dependency and increasing self-confidence over time.

Through initiatives like these, Blue Cross Chad supports girls and women in building practical capacities while fostering environments that encourage participation, learning, and long-term resilience.

The Life Skills approach continues to show powerful results among young people in Chad. One inspiring example is the story of Celicia, a 19-year-old high school student and active member of the Chadian Blue Cross youth club since 2023. Chad Blue Cross is in an important transformation as they seek new long term funders to these proven well functioing activities. The key approach is to engage youth as peer educators. This approach enables broad reach of youth.

Before joining the club, Celicia describes herself as temperamental and quick to anger, often insulting others at the slightest provocation. Today, she shares how her participation in Blue Cross activities has helped her transform her behaviour:

“Now I’m in a good mood and I get along with many people. Even when someone offends me, I know how to think before responding – something I couldn’t do before.”

Celicia attributes this positive change to the ongoing activities of the youth club and to two major training opportunities: the 2024 mixed camp and a training for gender-based violence focal points. These experiences gave her practical knowledge on how to deal with challenges and strengthened her awareness of the risks young people face.

For her, the journey does not stop at graduation. She hopes to continue her studies and plans to join a Blue Cross club at university to build on what she has learned.

Croix-Bleue Tchadienne confirms that Celicia’s experience is not an isolated case. Many young people remain committed to promoting healthy behaviours even after project activities end. This demonstrates that voluntary engagement and ownership of the programme make the change sustainable.

International Blue Cross reflects that while in some projects behaviour change ends when financial incentives stop, here the opposite is true: young people are motivated by a strong sense of purpose. They recognise the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse, and they want to continue building a healthier society.

This story shows that Life Skills training is not only preventing harm but also shaping young people into more respectful, confident, and responsible citizens.

We thank you for your support and look forward to telling you our project developments again soon!