Life-Skills

This project supports community members by empowering them with life skills and entrepreneurship training to enable them to engage in income-generating activities and wealth creation based on principles of sustainable development to support their livelihoods. Key populations targeted for this project are unemployed or low-income earners, and individuals with disabilities, among others. The goal of this project is to reduce poverty through entrepreneurial skills training and sustainable employment creation for income generation among vulnerable and marginalized groups. PIED will also work with micro financing institutions from the private and public sectors to establish and strengthen networks that facilitate vulnerable groups to access social safety net services and working capital.

Life skills are defined as “a group of psychosocial competencies and interpersonal skills that help people make informed decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathize with others, and cope with and manage their lives in a healthy and productive manner. Life skills may be directed toward personal actions or actions toward others, as well as toward actions to change the surrounding environment to make it conducive to health.” according to World Health Organization (WHO). Bearing the WHO definition in mind, the Basic Life Skills curriculum offers youth the emotional, social and intellectual tools needed to achieve success in life – on a personal level, an interpersonal level, and within their community and work places.

Why is Basic Life Skills Important?

·       Objective: Young generations develop attitudes and beliefs in a positive manner so that they contribute to Azerbaijani society and achieve success as they transition to adulthood, and the work world.

·       Target audience: The life skills lesson package is intended to apply to young generation aged 10 to 24 years old who come to Youth Houses aiming to creating a healthy condition to support and advancement of youth initiatives.

·      Expected outcome: Through life skills education, young generations are equipped with foundational skills necessary for transitioning to productive adulthood; manage stress; learn to deal with difficult emotions; practice positivism; improve self-esteem; feel empathy; learn to listen to others carefully; learn to set personal boundary; handle dispute well; find balance between priorities and demands; communicate confidently; set goals; make decisions; solve problems; think critically and creatively; use executive functional skills; and learn to bounce back from adversity.

The PIED Basic Life Skills curriculum for the youth are based in evidence-based psychosocial methodology including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness and resilience-building activities. These skills can help youth better understand themselves, get along with others, and gain tools to cope with life’s inevitable difficulties.