Fostering Sustainable Life Skills: Assessing the Needs and Resilience of At-Risk Adolescents in Ukraine

Abstract

New life challenges necessitate the search for methods to help adolescents adapt to society. Vulnerable children need to develop special skills during the pandemic and while forming their skills and outlook on life. The purpose of the study was to obtain information on the development of skills of adolescents belonging to vulnerable categories to assess their priority needs. The study used analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, comparison, and a questionnaire that included a set of questions conducted among adolescents aged 15-16. The article highlights the attitudes of adolescents and their opinions on the main issues of society, such as social, communication and adaptation concepts. Attitudes towards gender equality, Internet communication and emotional background are substantiated and analyzed. It has been determined that children have the opportunity to achieve their goals faster through the prism of developing skills that are a priority for them. Skills that help build independence, resilience, and responsiveness are identified, as well as habits that help to overcome difficulties, develop leadership skills, and the ability to communicate in a team. The study pays considerable attention to soft skills that are in demand in modern society. It is proven that resilience helps a person build closer relationships, teaches self-development, and encourages striving for the best.

Keywords: habits, sociality, adaptability, resilience, adolescence, vulnerability