Solution & Impact Evaluation

  

Understanding what the OUTCOMES of our social impact is so important.  And realizing what our impact is (or can be) can create more meaningful and relevant opportunities to do good!
Watch this! Measuring your Social Impact: Theory of Change


Starfish Hurling - We've all heard the story of starfish, and the idea that "I made a difference to that one.  In our reading this week we explored this story a bit... Realizing while this is a cute story that calls us to remember the importance of  "making a difference where you can, one person or problem at a time," and to "not be put off by skepticism or criticism or cynicism," it brought up other sides to the story... agree or disagree, it was food-for-thought and gives us an opportunity to reflect on what our impact may be, what it should be, if what we hope for really is the outcome, etc.  The points we are asked to consider are:

1. The scenario is apolitical, and there is rarely any hesitancy or moral complexity in responding to natural disaster crises. The assumption is that all problems are similarly simple, which they are not. 
2. It is not about helping people and avoids the question of who deserves help.  "The starfish are passive, they have no voice; they cannot have an opinion about their circumstances. Their silence coincides with the fact that they can have done nothing to deserve their fate."
3. It doesn't address unintended consequences.  The ecological impact of this sort of interruption may lead to a shortage of food for predators or may have been part of the ecological cycle to move them because they have outgrown their habitat.  So many interrelated elements in any ecosystem.  Are you really helping or hurting? 
4. It doesn't encourage creating a plan, just engaging as an emotional response. What impact is just one person really doing?  With just a bit of advance organizing, the overwhelming task could be mitigated by recruiting volunteers. 
5. "The story does nothing to teach us about community or service." The tale privileges random, individual acts of kindness and avoids questions of community; it does nothing to teach us about community service. 

The article finishes with the advice to "Stop hurling starfish. Don’t go charging out to help. Talk, listen, build relationships, know your self, your environment; work with others where they and the situation itself can teach you how to act with more and more knowledge and effectiveness." 

So... Are you hurling starfish?  or are you creating change in a meaningful way that has measurable and beneficial outcomes.  Beginning with the end in mind (as Stephen Covey teaches us) is an important aspect of doing meaningful community service and making a real difference.