Hope for Children Program Equips Children with Essential Emotional Skills

More than 45 children from Littlewelly, Batawerra, and Greatwelly recently took part in a Life Skills Education Program organized by the Delthota Hope for Children Community Development Project of Believers Eastern Church, Diocese of Colombo.

Held at the Great Valley Child Parliament, the program focused on Emotional Regulation, helping children understand their emotions and develop practical skills to manage them in healthy and positive ways.

The session began with a welcome address by Social Worker Miss Oliviya, who introduced the purpose of the program and encouraged the children to participate actively.

Mrs. Daisy, a staff member of the Hope for Children project, led the main session. Through interactive discussions and practical activities, the children learned to identify different emotions, understand the effects of stress, and recognize how feelings can be expressed through facial expressions, body language, and behaviour.

The program included group discussions, mindfulness activities, deep-breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and practical demonstrations. These activities helped the children explore healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions and respond more positively to challenging situations.

The session also highlighted the importance of empathy, respect, active listening, confidentiality, and positive communication. The safe and interactive environment encouraged the children to share their experiences and engage confidently throughout the program.

For the participants, the program offered valuable lessons that they could apply in their daily lives. Jerriton said the session helped him gain greater confidence in recognizing and managing his emotions, while George described the program as useful and interesting, particularly for learning practical ways to reduce stress and respond positively to daily challenges.

The Life Skills Education Program reflects the ongoing efforts of the Hope for Children Community Development Project to equip children with practical knowledge and skills that contribute to their emotional well-being, personal development, and ability to face everyday challenges with greater confidence.