Thriving in adversity: How is life skills programs helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds

Children who face adversities like poverty, neglect, and violence are often stunted in the development of life skills needed to thrive. These circumstances result in prolonged or excessive activation of stress response systems in the body and brain, creating damaging effects on learning, behaviour, and health across the lifespan.

Dream a Dream (a Nongovernmental organisation from Bangalore) engages young people who are 8-15 years old through life skills arts-based and team sports programs. These structured activities teach students important life skills like understanding and following instructions, managing conflict, taking initiative, overcoming difficulties, solving problems, and interacting with others. 

The last 20 years, Dream a Dream has worked with young people and has seen how ecosystems can support young people when mindsets are changed. Based on our experience, we aim to bring voices from the global south into conversations centering around pathways to thriving. We will engage in dialogue with beneficiaries of the life skills programs and facilitators who deliver it. Join us to explore what thriving means today and for the future. How does it manifest and look like among young people?