“Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life” (WHO definition).
Helping children develop essential life skills is a big part of the restoration process at ZOE. It takes us being very intentional! Swimming, doing chores, managing money, and using a computer are just some of the useful life skills we teach. But we also value teaching emotional skills such as problem solving, perseverance, managing feelings, and making connections.
Recently some of our girls shared testimonies about how they had noticed within themselves that their emotional skills were increasing.
We wanted to share a few of their testimonies with you.
“From being aggressive and having a hot temper, I can now calm down faster and can control my emotions better.”
“I was lacking discipline in many areas but now I can take care of the duties assigned to me.”
“Before I had no target now I have started setting goals, writing them down, and trying to hit them.”
“I did not care about my outlook before. Now I have learned to dress properly. I do not want to go back to my old life and I now understand my value.”
ZOE helps children develop interpersonal skills by providing healthy and safe environments to interact with other people. Listening and speaking, as well as the ability to control and manage emotions, are essential parts of being in a family, and necessary for life. We are so encouraged when we see and hear the positive developments that are occurring in their lives through the process of restoration.