Tura, Dec 3: In an inspiring initiative aimed at nurturing future leaders, the “Building Young Leaders By Empowering Adolescent Boys and Girls with Transformational Life Skills” program took a significant step forward on Monday.
Hosted at the District Auditorium in Tura, the event honored the progress made through this initiative by celebrating students and teachers with a felicitation ceremony, recognizing them as ambassadors of the program and encouraging their peers to embrace these transformational skills.
Chaired by June H Warbah, Program Coordinator at the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) , the event was graced by Sumit Kumar Singh, SDO (C), Dadenggre and Aiben Swer, Director of MIG along with Nengse M Marak, Principal of Nokrek Heights School, Tura and other guests, where they addressed the gathering, highlighting the success of the program and its expansion across the state.
Monday’s event also provided a platform for teachers and students to share their experiences on the life skill they learned, reiterating the importance of the education module and the positive impact it had on both students and master trainers, highlighting their positive experience and enjoyment during the training sessions.
The event celebrated the efforts of teachers and students who have been part of the initiative, which focused on imparting critical life skills such as self-awareness, communication, decision-making, assertiveness, sexual rights, health and hygiene, and intergenerational dialogue in the classrooms.
The program’s foundation lies in empowering teachers first, training them on core life skills so they can, in turn, mentor students at their respective schools, enabling young individuals to build confidence, improve communication, and foster a sense of self and purpose.
Speaking to Hub News, June H Warbah, Program Coordinator at the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) said, “Life skill is not a subject taught in schools, but life skill is a book, where you have all the topics that is going to be dealt with you in your day to day life”, indicating that life skills are not taught as a subject but are integrated into various aspects of life, starting from childhood and continuing through adulthood.
She also pointed out the importance of counselling skills for teachers, which was incorporated into the program despite the module, as per the UNICEF guide book, not originally including it.
She further explained the need to adapt the module to the local environment, making it more relatable and favorable to the state’s students, and stressing the need for the government to support the program on a broader scale, aligning with the NEP 2020’s focus on life skills.
Sharing her passion for the work, Warbah pointed out the importance of addressing issues like social media use in a constructive manner, saying that the program focuses more on teaching students time management and the balance between work and play, rather than outright banning social media or mobile use.
Having started this year, the program is already impacting adolescents statewide. As more young leaders emerge, the Institute remains committed to fostering an environment that encourages leadership, confidence, and resilience in the youth of Meghalaya.
Also Read: Meghalaya plans helicopter services for tourists, eyes 60% footfall growth by 2025
Also Watch
