Martin Luther Christian University received a three-year funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, for a project entitled “Alcohol use among adolescent tribals in three corners of India” under the Principal Investigator, Dr. R. Jennifer War. The two main objectives of the project are to estimate prevalence of alcohol use, psychiatric morbidity and related risk factors among 11-19 year old tribals in three states of India and to conduct a feasibility study of the NIMHANS Life Skills Education model in forestalling alcohol use amongst tribal adolescents.

To implement the second objective of the project, the project team conducted a one day life skills workshop for youth at Lapalang community who were part of the control group of the study. The workshop was held on December 14,2021.
Around 20 youths between 15 to19 years of age attended the workshop. The ASHA workers also participated in the workshops as observers. The workshop was facilitated by trained faculty from the Department of Social Work and Centre for GENDER of MLCU.
The youths were given training on motivation, self-awareness, self-esteem, high risk behaviour, and attitudes towards failures The pedagogy employed were group discussions, reflections, activities ,role plays and games.

Speaking at the inaugural function, the Headman of Lapalang,Mr J Hynniewta emphasised on the importance of providing such workshops especially for the youth who are leaders of tomorrow. Speaking at the valedictory session, one of the participants stated that the workshop had been useful and that they would share the information garnered with their friends and family.