Evaluate

Ask the young participants to evaluate  

The purpose of evaluation activities is twofold. Firstly, and as touched upon in the Idea phase, you will learn what went well, and what you could do differently the next time you set up a similar project. Secondly, it is documentation for decision-makers. If the project receives positive evaluation, it will increase the odds for decision-makers endorsing a new youth eParticipation project in the future. For instance, it speaks for itself if 99 % of the young answer that they would like to take part in a similar project. And if the young evaluate the organisation of the project positively, the chances are that the decision-makers will ask your team to organise the next project too. In the box below we have included an example of an evaluation form which you can draw inspiration from.

Numbers often say a lot, but not everything. If you would like to know what exactly can be improved you will most likely need qualitative input too. One way to accumulate this knowledge is to invite randomly selected participants – or your steering committee – to an evaluation meeting a few days after the event. Another option which could potentially also give the project good publicity is to make small videos where the young participants share their impressions of the project. Besides presenting them to the decision-makers, these videos could be shared on SoMe channels and be used for recruitment purposes when you start a new youth eParticipation project. But make sure that the filmed participants have given their consent to the video being shared on SoMe channels or to use it in other ways in the future.