These programs aim to give young people "life skills" to help them deal with the challenges they encounter. Smoking is directly addressed within these programs as one such challenge. Educational modules are normally designed by educational experts and delivered by teachers or youth leaders. Our role is to sponsor and support their development and implementation.
Russian Educational Program "My Choice"
Educational program "My Choice" is a fundamental element of the YSP program in Russia. This program has been developed by a group of Russian educators and writers and is supported by the Russian Public Council on the Problem of Underage Smoking. In 2002, "My Choice" involved about 100,000 pupils and 8,000 teachers in 31 regions.
This educational module teaches pupils the basic principles of decision-making. Children learn to analyze the possible consequences of different types of behavior, and to make sound choices independently. In particular, they learn how to resist peer pressure or other factors that may lead to underage smoking.
In order to help teachers, the program has included a considerable methodological component for the teacher, including game techniques, group discussions and other features of today's educational science.
The dialog model of schooling assumes not only a dialog between the student and the teacher, but also a dialog between students. The "My Choice" program includes teaching schoolchildren the ability to formulate and express and defend his or her own point of view, to challenge their opponent's attitude, to work in a group, to coordinate positions and to reach compromise solutions.
Research has shown that, "My Choice" program has helped children grasp concepts like freedom, lifestyle and liability, and understand that freedom of choice also implies responsibility for one’s own behavior.
Encouraged by the overwhelming approval of the program, the Russian Public Council planned to spread and consistently improve its elements, including the YSP module, in 2003.