ART
FILMMAKING
BOOK PUBLISHING
PERSONAL SUSTAINABILITY
Goal: Life Skills through Art
We introduce disenfranchised youth of the inner city to an alternative way of life using art and entertainment. We use the arts to help improve literacy by exposing the functionality between the two.
- We instruct students on the inner workings of filmmaking, book publishing, etiquette and art.
Definition of Life Skills*
Life skills are a set of human skills acquired via teaching or direct experience that are used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily human life.
The World Health Organization defines life skills as “abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.” In primary and secondary education, life skills may refer to a skill set that accommodates more specific needs of modern industrialized life; examples include money management, food preparation, hygiene, basic literacyand numeracy, and organizational skills. Life skills are sometimes, but not always, distinguished from occupational skills.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) divide life skills into subsets of categories[1][2]:
Learning to know: Cognitive abilities
Critical thinking skills
Learning to be: Personal abilities
Skills for increasing internal locus of control
Skills for managing stress
Learning to live together: Interpersonal abilities
Interpersonal communication skills
Negotiation and refusal skills
Empathy
Cooperation and teamwork
Advocacy skills
Skills for managing feelings
In accordance with the World Health Organizations definitions of Life Skills[1][2],
ATL Program Participants will have the opportunity to learn:
Critical thinking skills
- Analyzing peer and media influences
- Analyzing attitudes, values, social norms and beliefs and factors affecting these
- Identifying relevant information and information sources
Personal Abilities
- Self-esteem and confidence-building skills
- Self-awareness skills including awareness of rights, influences, values, attitudes, strengths and weaknesses
- Goal-setting skills
- Self-evaluation, self-assessment, and self-monitoring skills
Skills for managing stress
- Time management
- Positive thinking
- Relaxation techniques
Interpersonal communication skills
- Verbal and nonverbal communication
- Active listening
- Expressing feelings; giving feedback (without blaming) and receiving feedback
Negotiation and refusal skills
- Negotiation and conflict management
- Assertiveness skills
- Refusal skills
Empathy
- Ability to listen to and understand another’s needs and circumstances and express that understanding
Cooperation and teamwork
- Expressing respect for others’ contributions and different styles
- Assessing one’s own abilities and contributing to the group
Advocacy skills
- Skills of influence and persuasion
- Networking and motivation skills
Take a Look at some of Our Program Offerings!
References
