YouthLIFE: Life Skills through New Technology Supported by John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

YouthLIFE – A Technology based curriculum Comprehensive, self learning digital information package for adolescents aged years Engages students through interactive and simulative games and exercises leading to effective learning and preparedness to face challenges of everyday life Topics around Life Skills, Growing Up, Relationships and Healthy habits

YouthLIFE Project Design Adolescent girls and boys have a right to make choices to determine their futures including choices around SRHR. Adolescent girls and boys can develop the capabilities to make healthy choices around SRHR

Project Design: Target Group: Adolescent girls and boys aged of classes 6, 7 and 8 identified in 50 schools of Delhi and Jharkhand Development of a graded curriculum for classes 6,7 and 8 The digitized curriculum developed comprised of 2 components - Group and Individual learning Inbuilt individual assessment A Feasibility Study to assess the effectiveness of the digital curriculum

Some Findings from the Study Overall increase in knowledge of students was found to be higher on all knowledge indicators such as physical changes during adolescence, relationships, good touch/bad touch, bullying nutrition and anaemia, etc. The average net gain in knowledge among students was found to be 24.22% The cost effectiveness analysis using direct cost of implementing the YouthLIFE package showed that use of print medium had lower effectiveness/cost ratio (0.05) as compared to digital medium (0.11)

Implementation in Schools Orientation of Principals Orientation and training of teachers Classroom transaction of digital curriculum with students Regular backstopping of sessions

Selection of schools for implementation in process - 11 new schools added to the already existing 4 pilot schools In Ranchi, 8 schools have been approached ; 4 schools have agreed to implement the program Identification and collaboration with a new technology partner, Zobble Solutions to develop content for class 8 Expansion of current YouthLIFE digital curriculum Class-wise stratification of the digital package Meeting with Principals Transaction and backstopping sessions with new/old schools Website designing initiated Selection of schools for implementation in process - 11 new schools added to the already existing 4 pilot schools In Ranchi, 8 schools have been approached ; 4 schools have agreed to implement the program Identification and collaboration with a new technology partner, Zobble Solutions to develop content for class 8 Expansion of current YouthLIFE digital curriculum Class-wise stratification of the digital package Meeting with Principals Transaction and backstopping sessions with new/old schools Website designing initiated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Qualitative and Quantitative assessment of the program in the schools through a baseline and an endline Regular evaluation of students through an inbuilt self assessment Regular monitoring visits to ensure new modules developed are being properly implemented

New Initiatives Development of a website for students, parents and teachers Expansion and translation of the current YouthLIFE digital curriculum to Hindi Introduction of the YouthLIFE curriculum to more schools in more states

The Content ModulesSessions Life Skills Understanding Life Skills, Self Esteem & Identity Growing Up Understanding Self, Goal Setting, Good and Bad touch, Child Abuse, Body image, Role Models, Mapping the future, Social & Emotional Changes Healthy Habits Personal Hygiene, Nutrition- Balanced diet & Food labeling, HIV and AIDS, Substance Abuse, Rights & Responsibilities Relationships Friendship, Handling Peer Rejection, Bullying, Cyber Bullying, Gender stereotypes and Gender based Discrimination, Effective Communication with parents & teachers

Some glimpses

Key Learning & Challenges Participation of students very high Regular backstopping of sessions undertaken for effective and timely transaction in classrooms Schools have shown interest in introducing the package to students from lower classes Lack of infrastructure in many schools – a challenge in taking the program to scale