How can health education be made more effective for young people? This report analyzes the development of the Life Skills Initiative in Uganda, an effort to enhance health education in schools by fostering pupils' life skills, such as assertiveness, decision making, and effective communication. In the context of HIV/AIDS, these skills are seen as crucial for young people to translate their health knowledge into practice. Focusing on **health**, the report emphasizes the need for participatory, active learning approaches, a challenge given the large classes and didactic teaching styles prevalent in Ugandan schools. Life Skills are seen as one of the young people’s principal protections against infection. The Ugandan schools with their huge classes and didactic teaching styles has been met through the school system, and through other channels, including non‐government organisations, the mass media and the health services. The report provides insights into how this challenge is being addressed through the school system and other channels, including non-government organizations, mass media, and health services. This provides important insights for programs in similar contexts. Future research can evaluate the long-term impact of the Life Skills Initiative on health outcomes and reproductive health behaviours.
Published in _Health Education_, this report aligns with the journal’s focus on promoting health and well-being through educational interventions. By examining the Life Skills Initiative in Uganda, the paper contributes to the journal’s coverage of practical approaches to health promotion in diverse contexts.