Adolescence: The Age of Opportunity

1. Adolescence: The Age of Opportunity Developing adolescents’ capacities and values through education can enable an entire generation to become economically independent, positive contributors to society. Investing in education and training for adolescents and young people is perhaps the single most promising action to end extreme poverty during this decade.

3. There is no definitive list of life skills Communication and Interpersonal Skills • Interpersonal communication skills • Negotiation/refusal skills • Empathy • Cooperation and Teamwork • Advocacy Skills Decision-Making and Critical Thinking Skills • Decision making / problem solving skills • Critical thinking skills Coping and Self-Management Skills • Skills for increasing internal locus of control • Skills for managing feelings • Skills for managing stress

4. Adolescents are often seen as the next generation of actors on the social and economic stage (early adolescence: 10 to14 years / late adolescence: 15 to 19 years) Lack of appropriate skills and of work opportunities are denying adolescents and youth a future of stable, productive work Attendance and completion of secondary school, access to quality health care, participation in decision-making and protection from violence, exploitation and abuse are fundamental to empowering adolescents to realize their full potential.

5. Juvenile crime and violence Juvenile crime is primarily an urban problem Adolescents are sometimes perceived as a threat tocommunity peace and security. The suggestion is that if adolescents are not produc- tively employed or feel disaffected from society, particularly males, they more likely to express their frustrations through violence. But despite the difficulties of making the transition to adulthood, the fact is that the vast majority of young people function as stable members of society going peacefully about their affairs.

6. Attendance and completion of secondary school • Access to quality health care • Participation in decision-making • Protection from violence, exploitation and abuse are fundamental to empowering adolescents to realize their full potential. Adolescents from local schools attend Global Handwashing Day at Mobido Keita Stadium, Bamako, Mali

7. SHADOW PUPPET THEATRE AND PREVENTION EDUCATIONSOVANNA PHUM ART ASSOCIATIONCAMBODIA While education remains the most efficient response to HIV, AIDS and drug misuse, the content of the messages as well as the way they are communicated to different target groups is critical. They must be made accessible, acceptable and attractive to a population of largely illiterate and marginalized people who are excluded from information in traditional prevention programmes that are largely based on written information.

8. The project first provided an opportunity for 12 young artists to be recruited by SovannaPhum (6 puppeteers and 6 musicians). They received some training in artistic skills, as well as guidance about HIV and AIDS and drug-related issues and evaluation. A number of the artists became proficient in skills that helped them on a personal level by enhancing their livelihoods. Over a period of 3 months the young artists created leather puppets for the shadow theatre performances, developed the storyline with the technical guidance of experts and rehearsed several times a week to improve their performances. After the show there is a question and answer session. Here the audience can share their experience, knowledge and fears about HIV and drug-related issues.

9. They can be corrected, where appropriate, by the SovannaPhum project team and artists, who draw on the knowledge and experience learnt during initial training workshops they attended.

10. ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR STREET CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS NIÑOS DEL CAMINOSANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Niños Del Camino is a voluntary organization which aims to improve the quality of life of the children and young people (mainly boys and young men) who live on the streets of Santo Domingo. It provides a multitude of services to street youth, ranging from basic needs such as food and shelter to outreach work, life skills or basic education. This includes information and counselling for accessing legal and health services.

11. More specifically the project aims to improve the self-esteem of these children and adolescents through non-formal education and creative art. Moreover, the project provides the street children with vocational training, basic education and the chance to exhibit their creative work. Several hundred street youth benefit from the various activities of Niños Del Camino, and more than 100 have received training which provides them with the skills to raise income through traditional craft making. The level of self- esteem has significantly increased among young participants who feel sheltered by the supportive environment of the project.

12. Adolescent empowerment: Bangladesh Peer educationIn 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. ParticipationThe centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.

13. A supportive communityParents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.