- Life Skills Education
Empowering Young People with
Life Skills-Based SRH Education
Building confidence, resilience, and informed decision-making for tribal adolescents
Breaking Barriers Through Education
Adolescence is a time of rapid physical and emotional change, often accompanied by vulnerability, risk-taking, and pressure from peers. Without accurate knowledge or guidance, many young people—especially those from tribal communities—struggle with misinformation about sexuality, reproductive health, and decision-making.
For tribal adolescents in Odisha, the challenges are even greater. With limited access to resources and safe spaces to learn, they face heightened risks of poor health, early pregnancies, and social exclusion. Poverty, industrialization, and migration further intensify these vulnerabilities.
Life Skills Education (LSE) empowers adolescents to make informed, responsible, and healthy choices. It builds self-confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex situations—ensuring that young people, especially those from marginalized groups, grow into responsible, independent, and empowered citizens.
What We Do
KISS directly reached 10,000 tribal adolescents, building their knowledge and skills while creating a safe and enabling environment.
KISS provided technical support to extend this initiative across 500 government tribal residential schools—including SSD high schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)—benefiting 70,000 adolescent
With UNFPA support, the Odisha ST & SC Development Department began implementing the programme directly in government schools. Meanwhile, KISS institutionalized the programme within its own ecosystem to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Today, KISS continues to strengthen this model—developing culturally sensitive training materials, building teacher capacity, and mentoring peer educators to ensure that life skills-based SRH education remains an integral part of adolescent learning.
Interventions & Activities
Training newly inducted teachers on LSE-SRH
Selection and training of Peer Educators to spread awareness
Community-level awareness campaigns in tribal villages
Promoting menstrual hygiene and offering counselling support
Weekly Life Skills-based SRH education sessions at KISS
Relevant SDGs
Impact Metrics
70,000
adolescents covered through regular LSE-SRH sessions in grades VI–IX and XI
500
head Masters sensitized on programme delivery and monitoring
7,900
school Management Committee membersoriented on programme goals
32
gender Coordinator strained to support KGBV schools
100
district Resource Personstrained to support teachers
1,500
government teachers trained in LSE methodologies
60
DIET faculty trained to integrate LSE into teacher training
51
research papers generated on Life Skills & Adolescent SRH with UNFPA’s technical input
- CASE STUDY
The Journey of Bahalin Minz "I am better equipped to handle life's complex issues today."
Bahalin Minz, a peer educator from KISS, comes from Chungimati village in Sundargarh district. Facing financial hardship, she nearly dropped out after Class 12 until she found a place at KISS. Initially shy and overwhelmed, Bahalin blossomed after being trained as a peer educator.
Through interactive sessions, role plays, and peer engagement, she gained confidence and began mentoring younger students—on health, hygiene, menstrual awareness, and emotional well-being. Beyond KISS, Bahalin has organized summer camps in her village, supported AIDS awareness drives, and advocated for girl child education.
Today, she stands tall as a confident young woman, inspiring other girls to pursue education and make informed choices. Her journey shows how life skills education transforms not just individuals but entire communities.
Voices from the Ground
— Jhilli Naik, student
“These courses taught me things I usually only hear about on social media. I feel more confident now to take on challenges.”
— Jyoti Nayak, student
“The knowledge I gained will help me in exams, interviews, and debates. It has opened up a new way of learning.”
— Roji Bhoi, student
“I could choose from many courses—cybersecurity, AI, design thinking. They were practical and flexible. This will shape my career path.”
Partners
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
ST & SC Development Department, Govt. of Odisha
School & Mass Education Department, Govt. of Odisha
Join Us in Empowering the Next Generation
Together, we can ensure every young person has the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their health and future.
