CHIRAG conducts life-skills residential programmes for adolescent girls (Kishori Shikshan Kendra) and boys (Kishor Shikshan Kendra). The programmes are supported by the Adolescent Resource Center (ARC) that provides counseling and information to young people, and organizes activities for them. For instance ARC has organized English classes and facilitated training in skills like candle making. It also brings out quarterly theme-based newsletters (Yuva Sansar) written, edited and designed by the youth themselves.

Kishori Shikshan Kendra (KSK) is a residential programme that teaches life-skills to adolescent girls from the hill communities. The course (in batches of about 35) is designed to prepare young girls, aged 13-19, to face the challenges of life.

Forests, agriculture, livestock, fodder and water are among the major issues that women of these hill regions deal with throughout their lives. Thus Chirag has developed a comprehensive capacity building curriculum that takes these adolescent girls beyond the traditional classroom teaching, out into the fields and forests, for hands-on practical training and exposure. The curriculum has vocational and technical training interwoven with participatory sessions aimed at developing a better understanding of oneself. Since the course’s inception in 2002 it has constantly evolved, taking into account the feedback and suggestions of participants. There have been more than 400 beneficiaries so far, some of whom have returned to work with CHIRAG in various projects.
Areas covered in the residential programme include:

• Self awareness, life goals and communication skills

• Gender sensitisation, health and hygiene related issues

• Legal rights and regulations related to local self governance

• Technical subjects such as Forestry, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Forest management and Water Management

• Vocational skills such as sewing, tie-and-die, and candle making

Several participants voiced the need for a similar programme for adolescent boys. Subsequently Chirag started a life-skills course for boys – Kishor Shikshan Kendra – in 2006. The structure of the programme varies slightly from that for girls. It begins as a 10 day, non-residential camp where much time is spent in activities like playing sport that help build a rapport between the boys. After this the boys spend 15 days on-site and learn about health, goal setting, leadership, development and social issues.