Life skills that shape life choices

We are a learning organization. That means we test our assumptions. We measure our impact and identify areas of growth. We collect data to continuously improve our programming, and we share our learnings with others to improve the sector at large.

In 2021, we engaged in a deep review of our life skills curriculum. We recognized that this curriculum — like all our materials and approaches — must be able to adapt to new and changing contexts across geographies. We must prepare children to make informed choices in the face of the unique challenges of their time.

Read more in our 2024 Impact Report

We collected feedback from local leadership on programmatic best practices and evolving educational priorities. And we interrogated our materials, making sure they offered adolescents opportunities to challenge gender biases, norms and stereotypes, and to identify root causes of gender inequality.

The result: In 2024, we unveiled our updated curriculum, with content essential for young people as they navigate the unique challenges of the 21st century.

Financial literacy content supports adolescent children to set a budget, plan for emergencies, develop healthy spending habits and analyze the difference between wants and needs.

Climate justice content provides lessons on the science of climate change along with its social ramifications around gender equality, helping participants understand the gendered consequences of climate change and build the skills needed to act.

Dedicated sessions on menstrual health and hygiene, well-being, bodily autonomy and consent, personal safety and reproductive health all ensure adolescents have access to critical information about their bodies.

By integrating this content into our evidence-based approach, adolescents are supported to focus on their health and well-being, advocate for their rights and continue their education, free from preventable barriers.

You are part of a story that has fueled this learning and improvement, and our future growth will be accelerated by the pages you write next. It is with your support that we ensure relevant, effective and innovative programming — and achieve robust life skills outcomes that promote gender equality in the lives of all children, in their communities and around the world.