New report highlights the impact of INS’ Life Skills Course

A new independent evaluation of the Instant Network Schools (INS) Life Skills programme, developed by Vodafone Foundation, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and Digital Awareness UK, reveals significant improvements in students’ understanding and application of essential life skills, empowering young people to thrive in education, employment, and society.

Life Skills Programme

The Instant Network Schools programme is an initiative in partnership with UNHCR which gives young refugees, host communities and their teachers access to digital learning content and the internet.

Delivered through interactive videos, quizzes, and real-world challenges, the programme aims to foster personal, social, and emotional growth, and future employability.

The evaluation, conducted in five Egyptian schools during summer activities, assessed the programme’s effectiveness in improving learners’ knowledge, confidence, and practical application of life skills. Despite challenges such as limited internet connectivity and varying participation, the study provides robust evidence of positive impact.

Key Findings:

Matched pre- and post-intervention analysis showed statistically significant improvements in students’ ability to apply life skills in practical scenarios:

• Empathy: 664% increase in ability to apply empathy (+39.2 percentage points)
• Creativity: 125% increase in learners’ ability to apply creativity skills (+30.5 percentage points)
• Respect for Diversity: 153% increase in application (+25.6 percentage points)
• Learners reported greater confidence in applying skills such as communication (98%), managing emotions (92%), decision-making (100%), setting goals (100%), problem-solving (89%), self-understanding (98%), and teamwork (100%).
• 98% also reported the skills gained had already helped them deal with real-life situations

Speaking to the impact of completing the Life Skills modules, students shared stories of using creativity to upcycle household items, applying empathy to support friends and family, and practising negotiation and teamwork in daily life. 93% of students also highlighted increased confidence about their future education and 53% about their future career.

These impacts have been reflected by teachers who unanimously observed improvements in students’ life skills, engagement, and confidence. One teacher commented, “The videos were great at delivering information. The activities helped students release negative energy and turn it into positive energy.”

Albane Coeurquetin, Global Programme Lead, Instant Network School said: “Life skills aren’t optional, they are essential superpowers for every student and professional. By developing these abilities through the INS Life Skills course, students become better equipped to navigate change, build confidence, and make good decisions in both their personal and professional lives.”

Learn more about the Instant Network Schools Life Skills course and view the full report.