As compared to many other developed countries we invest very less in the development of our human resources. This may be due to economic reasons, but frankly speaking, the other reason is we are not aware and we also don’t care.
In many of my training programs for adults, I engage them in conversation on “Investment”.
Question 1.
What kind of investment do you do?
Common Response! (From many participants)
Mutual funds, Gold, Real estate, Fixed Deposit, Shares etc. etc.
Question 2:
How many of you invest in yourself?
Result: Complete silence.
After a moment, a couple of hands go up gingerly. Not sure or confident about themselves. But they want to share. They have paid to go to the gymnasium, to learn an art form, to improve their language, to develop speaking skills, to learn to drive a four wheeler etc.
Many of us we do that, but we look at the money we paid as a Spend and not as an Investment in our own development. Buying a book, attending a seminar, participating in a workshop, joining a training programs should be looked at as an investment and not spend. This basic shift in thinking will encourage us positively to go for many such developmental activities.
Formal education is the only area of Investment we think of. When we pay for a child to go to a summer camp we pay for a limited purpose called Recreation and we treat it as spend. We need to expand our definition of investment for children to engage them in many other activities that will help them in the process of personal development.
One of the reasons why we hesitate or are unsure of investing in different activities for children is the intangible. We are not able to see and measure (intangible) the immediate results of participation because these are long term investments. Development of a healthy mindset, awareness of life skills and their impact on life happens only over a period of time. We need to give that long rope to young people to get the benefits.
For most people a good formal education is equal to a good job and nothing more. In addition to education life skills form a robust support system for an individual’s all round development. It is necessary for individuals at all ages to get these opportunities from time to time and in good measure.
Investment in life skills development has to increase if we want our children to become good, responsible and effective citizens. We need to focus on different aspects of responsible citizenship coupled with leadership to have a positive impact in whatever the individuals decide to do in their life.
Experiential learning based outdoor activities to a very large extent offer excellent opportunity to explore and become aware of the basic life skills. Studies by researchers over the last 30-40 years have given enough indications to the effect. Self confidence, Self esteem, Resilience are some of the positive outcomes of participation in challenge based activities in the wilderness, because one is so close to nature and nature remains the best teacher for us.
Once or twice in a year children and youth must Endeavour to participate in challenging outdoor activities. It’s time, instead of finding excuses not to participate; we commit ourselves to invest in our children and youth towards their personal development. You will be surprised to see the positive change that comes with it.
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