Magdalena Dlugosz Marta Sum Wioleta Wegorowska Sebastian Gralec. Translation, editing, graphics: Anna Piątosa. Everyone a Changemaker

Transcription

1 BRIDGE BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND SOCIETY EVALUATION REPORT LUBLIN-WARSAW 2007 Magdalena Dlugosz Marta Sum Wioleta Wegorowska Sebastian Gralec Translation, editing, graphics: Anna Piątosa Everyone a Changemaker Ashoka in Poland 2007

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 3 PART A - Goal-achieving of the BUS... 5 PART B - Contact with the BUS Alumni... 9 PART C - Contact with Ashoka Fellows...10 PART D - Other relationships established during the BUS...11 PART E - Influence of the BUS...12 PART F - General questions...14 APPENDIX - Suggestions what could be changed...16 CONCLUSION

3 INTRODUCTION Evaluation of the Bridge between Universities and Society (BUS) program is a summary of its 5 editions. So far 94 participants have graduated from the program. Results of the study might be helpful during the preparation of the future BUS editions. Evaluation study was designed to answer the following questions: 1. Has the program met the participants' expectations? 2. What sorts of practical and theoretical skills acquired through participation in the BUS have been most useful for the Alumni? 3. What is present professional status of the BUS Alumni? 4. How according to the opinions of the BUS Alumni the program could be improved? 5. What suggestions the BUS Alumni have about the selection process and the profile of candidates? 6. How, if at all, the BUS Alumni Club should be organized? Participation in the program, meeting Ashoka Fellows, getting to know the citizen sector all of it was an opportunity for students to understand the idea of social entrepreneurship. It can be defined as a creative, open to new initiatives and capable of introducing systemic change way of solving social problems with business approach. After their graduation from the BUS program the vast majority of the Alumni still work in the social sector. Their motivation is usually connected with their 'will to change the world', satisfaction, a chance to do rewarding but at the same time useful job. It is often regarded as an alternative to working in business. Taking part in the BUS has been an inspiration to engage in social ventures. Some participants after graduating from the BUS have established their own citizen organizations. They also point out the creative opportunity the program was, a chance to meet interesting people. Some links are still kept and used in professional activities in social sector, as well as in business. The BUS Alumni use the experience and skills acquired through their participation in the program while carrying out their own projects and during their cooperation with Ashoka Fellows: through internships and after them. According to the Alumni opinions, candidates should apply to the program with a project and be obliged to carry it out during the program. Participation should be free of charge and less wealthy students should be offered stipends. Those of the BUS Alumni who work in citizen organizations should be engaged in the preparation of future editions. More emphasis should be placed on mentoring by Ashoka after the program. Workshops and trainings should be based more on business solutions. The study included 6 sets of questions and background questions. Gathering data through took over a month. During this time the questionnaires were sent out and collected back through s. The evaluation study involved all Alumni. The questionnaire was sent back by 46 persons, which is 48,8 per cent of the Alumni. Year Number of questionnaires sent back % of total % % % % % Total % 3

4 29 females and 17 males have answered the questionnaire. The respondents live in following voivodships: Mazowieckie: 20 persons (44.4%) Silesia: 8 (15.6%) Podlaskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Wielkopolskie and outside Poland: 2 persons from each region(4.4% each) Opolskie, Lubelskie, Swietokrzyskie, Lower Silesia: 1 person from each region (2.2% each). During the program the respondents represented the following occupations (respondents marked all options that applied): 86% were students 16% worked for the citizen sector 11% worked for business. Presently the Alumni work in (respondents marked all options that applied): in citizen organizations (56%) are students (35%) in business (30.2%) in public sector (18.6%). BUS Alumni professional status 60% 56% 50% 40% 30% 20% 35% 30.20% 18.60% Students Citizen sector Business Public sector 10% 0% The respondents have graduated or still attend studies in the following fields: social sciences (49%) economic sciences (21%) arts (18%) law and administration (7%) sciences (5%) Fields of studies 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 49% 21% 18% 7% 5% Social sciences Economic sciences Arts Law & Administration Sciences 4

5 PART A - Goal-achieving of the BUS In attempt to assess the effectiveness of the BUS in achieving its goals the following issues were distinguished: 1. Whether the idea of social entrepreneurship promoted by Ashoka and the goals of the BUS combined with individual motivations has been understood by the participants. 2. To what extent the BUS program was useful for the personal development of the participants and how they have used the knowledge acquired during the program. 3. Distinguished group of Alumni who currently work in the citizen sector. How citizen engagement has been motivated by the respondents: 'The need to change the world and the faith in changing the local reality by the citizen organizations had a lot to do with it. I believe that through working in the citizen sector we can influence change of things that disturb us. Initiatives carried out by the citizen organizations contribute to solving the local problems. There are multiple examples of projects, which helped to solve a particular problem and this alone proves the sense of citizen engagement. Damian Hamerla 'This is what I love to do, what gives me satisfaction. Acting for the benefit of others gives me, at least partially, a trust that world goes in the right direction. I believe it is worth going against the flow because life becomes more interesting. And there are still so many things to be done...' Marta Kaszubska 'In my opinion the people are the most valuable, cannot be copied or replaced. They create, bring around and cultivate the spiritual and material culture. Work for the benefit of all gives a sense of building a community.' Anna Konert 'Because working in business is not enough for me. Being outside Poland and working for a commercial company was enough and I don't want to go back to it.' Katarzyna Urbańska The idea of social entrepreneurship promoted by Ashoka the respondents understand as: acting in a creative, innovative way 51% introducing a systemic change 37% acting in professional, effective way 30% solving social problems with business solutions 24% working towards a mission 20% 5

6 Several participants understand the idea of social entrepreneurship in more complex way: 'According to Ashoka social entrepreneur is acting in a professional way to generate income directed to social goals. Social entrepreneur is a person who professionally works for the benefit of others. They present all the qualities of a business venturers acting out of business needs but create lasting values and directs the income to the citizen activities. Such entrepreneurs initiate and coordinate systemic change in the society, help the society grow, become role models for others, share the knowledge and experience, educate in citizen rights and obligations.' Michał Tasior 'Social entrepreneurship means working towards a systemic change, improvement of the given environment, even if it is just for one person. It means teaching how to fish instead of giving a fish. The entrepreneurs act against the well-known solutions and ordinary thinking; just after some time their ideas are accepted as a new philosophy in the given area.' Patrycja Romaniuk 'Social entrepreneurship means working in the citizen sector in an innovative, non-standard and very effective way. New style of acting in the citizen sector to solve old problems, using business approach.' Grzegorz Markowicz Presently 71% of the respondents claimed their engagement in the citizen sector. 42% work on permanent or temporary posts, 18% engage in voluntary work. Sectors of the Alumni activities 80% 71% Citizen sector 60% 40% 20% 42% 18% Permanent or temporary posts Voluntary work 0% The need to change the world was named as the major reason to engage them in citizen work 51%, and this kind of work is rewarding for 42%. The same number of respondents understands it as a useful and at the same time pleasant activity, 24% - as an alternative to working in business, 22% - an opportunity to work with people. Only 12% motivates their citizen engagement by inspiration taken from Ashoka. All respondents agreed to have benefited from the BUS program. The BUS Alumni pointed out the following as a very important or significant benefit: motivation to engage in citizen sector 76% 51% perceive the BUS program as a great learning and creative opportunity 44% have established new personal or professional links for 44% it was a valuable experience, useful in professional and everyday life. While asked 'how the BUS program has changed you with regard to..?' the least 6

7 marked answer was: 'I found out about myself more' 37%. 7% of the respondents claimed to have found a job opportunity within the Ashoka Fellows organization after the BUS. 44% have taken advantage of the knowledge acquired in the BUS program in their work for the local community. Knowledge acquired during the BUS workshops is useful: in carrying out their own projects 89% in contacts with Ashoka Fellows 84% in voluntary work and personal life 82% in citizen organizations 40%. In answer to 'How do you understand the goals of the BUS?' question, the respondents said: for 87% it is an inspiration for young, creative people to be active; 49% think the goal of the BUS is to support and motivate to carry out their own ideas and plans; 36% think it helps to promote the idea of social entrepreneurship; in the opinion of 20% it is a breeding ground for new social leaders How participants understand the goal of the BUS: 'Building a platform for the Ashoka Fellows, and for young people full of enthusiasm - the BUS participants an opportunity to find out about Ashoka Fellows innovative ideas and promote them, to meet some extraordinary people and their initiatives. Showing the methods and experience to the new generation, creating an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to carry out their own project.' Beata Kwiatosz 'Integration of the fellowship, networking, so that individuals get a chance to meet others like the. Exchange of experience and knowledge with them. In the future they might also exchange staff, services, work ideas' Agata Michalak 'The ultimate goal of the BUS is to promote the idea of social entrepreneurship among young active people. It shows another way of living: how to combine passion with citizen engagement and make a living of it. It also gives young people passion and shows them how the Ashoka Fellows work.' Mariusz Nikiciuk How the BUS Alumni explained their decision to apply for the program: 64% applied to learn something about social entrepreneurship for 60% it was a new kind of engagement 38% wanted to learn more about the citizen sector 7% applied to find out how to help others. 7

8 Motivation to apply for the BUS 80% 64% 60% 60% To learn about social entrepreneurship Something new 40% 20% 0% 38% 7% To learn the citizen sector To help others Why students applied for the BUS: 'I wanted to change the world around me and stick to my ideals at the same time. I also wanted to work in the rural areas and get to know how to help people using the knowledge and experience acquired through the BUS program.' Agnieszka Kwiatkowska 'I wanted to learn something different from what you can learn in business.' Jarek Greser 'I applied for the BUS mostly out of curiosity, not being quite aware how it is going to influence my life and that my participation in the BUS is going to take me where I am now. And this is just the beginning.' Patrycja Romaniuk

9 PART B - Contact with the BUS Alumni In this part we tried to answer the following questions: 1. Participation in the BUS as an opportunity to establish some new relationships (types of contact) 2. Links between the Alumni of different editions. It is important to notice that the majority of the Alumni 75% - are still in contact with people they met in the program. They declare being in touch with: 1 or 2 people (more than 45%) 3 or 4 people (more than 35%) 5 or 6 people (just over 19%). contacts with those of other editions. Among the activities they took up together, the Alumni named: a project (50%) participation in workshops or trainings (30%) establishing an organization (20%). The Alumni of the third edition worked professionally together most often, followed by a group from the fifth, first and second edition. No Alumni of the fourth edition have undertaken an activity together. It is also worth noticing that the Alumni of the third edition stay in the closest relationship with each other, followed by the second, first and finally the fourth edition. The links between them are generally social (76%). Almost 30% are engaged in an activity together. This particular case can be explained by the early stage of the Alumni professional development. The older the participant, the more often they keep Contribution to Ashoka Fellow's project: 'Undertaking a project together, inviting each other to workshops, spreading the information about BUS participants projects that get along with your interests elaborating methods and ideas together, discussing, exchanging methodology and experience.' Beata Kwiatosz No more than 40% of the Alumni stay in touch with the participants of other editions. Half of them undertake some activities together, like: a project (60%), participation in workshops (30%) or creating an organization (20%). The Alumni of the fifth edition stay in closest touch with the Alumni of other editions, followed by the third, first, second and fourth edition. Some claimed to have employed the Alumni of other editions in their organizations or organized internship, training or another work activity there. 9

10 PART C - Contact with Ashoka Fellows In Part C we gathered information about the relationship between the BUS Alumni and Ashoka Fellows (types of contact and how the collaboration has been established). 58% have come into contact with a Fellow through working or having an internship in their organization. 46% have met a Fellow before their participation in the BUS. 33% met a Fellow during the BUS workshops. 57% said they maintain contact with Ashoka Fellows: with 1 or 2 Fellows (79%) with 3 or 4 (12%) with 5 or 6 (8%). 44% of the respondents described the type of contact as social, 32% - friendship. 44% collaborate with an organization run by an Ashoka Fellow. 24% work within Fellow s organization, 16% describe the relationship as mentoring. Types of contact with Ashoka Fellows 50% 44% 44% 40% 32% 30% 24% 20% 16% 10% 0% Social Friendship Collaboration Work in their organization Mentoring 10

11 PART D - Other relationships established during the BUS Part D concerned establishing collaboration with: a) citizen organizations b) business c) public administration during the BUS program. them to date 6%. It might be a result of just one of the editions that included more business training in the program. Only 15% collaborated with the public administration and 9% continues their work with them. The vast majority of the respondents established collaboration with a citizen organization (47.5%). 32.5% continue their work with the organization. Among the organizations involved in this contact the Alumni named: the Eco-Initiative Association, the Local Fund of the Snow Mountain, the Borderline Foundation, ZIARNO Ecological and Cultural Association. Due to the orientation of the BUS program towards citizen sector less number of the Alumni established collaboration with business (17%) and continue to work with Collaboration with three sectors 50.00% 47.50% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% 33% Citizen organization 17.00% 6% Business 15% 9% Public administration In the BUS To date 11

12 PART E - Influence of the BUS This part of the survey relates to the influence the BUS has had on its participants. The measured issues were: 1. Changes, modifications of the project, the kind of assistance the participants received during the program 2. Changes the BUS brought into their lives. The majority of the respondents who applied to the BUS with their own projects declared having launched the project during the program (72%). 88% said that the BUS brought some changes to their projects. Among the types of assistance received from the BUS, the following categories were named: 1. Substantial support from the BUS 63% 2. The BUS as a motivation 50% 3. An opportunity to establish new contacts 38% 4. Important role of Krzysztof Stanowski in the program 18%. First two categories seem worth noticing. The respondents appreciated the factual assistance they received while in the program. It was one of the most important elements of the program that helped them carry out their projects. It constituted a base for other activities that came later. Second most important category was the motivation from Ashoka Fellows. It helped students gain self-confidence and believe that they can bring their ideas to life. Participants applied to BUS program with idea for their social project. For some of them confronting ideas with reality was harsh experience. For all of them inspiring and empowering to pursue their dreams. 'The ideals faced the reality and they became feasible. I used the knowledge and experience from the BUS to write three new projects. I changed my attitude towards looking for funds. For the first time I dared to ask private individuals for help.' Beata Kwiatosz 'Assistance from the BUS was a decisive factor. Without it I wouldn't have had a my idea so clear and I wouldn't be as active as I am today. Thanks to the program I decided who I want to be in the future. I learned to start with small things, so that later I can move to bigger and bigger because, just like the majority of the participants, I had a really huge idea for the first project.' Damian Hamerla 'The logic of the project was verified. I acquired tools that I use to date. Inspiration and constructive criticism on the project added to its effective implementation.' Maciek Baryłka Among the projects carried out in collaboration with the BUS are: 'Socrates on his way to school'. 'Historical discussions with neighbors', 'Tales of one thousand and one village', 'Remote street', 'Activator' and Wroclaw Association of Tutors. Few respondents did not apply to the BUS with their own project but created it during the program. 12

13 'I applied with an idea in my head(...). As a result, I established my own Institution for Responsible Business.' Paweł Makowiecki 'I launched my project after graduation from the BUS. Our edition of the program was directed towards young employees from citizen organizations. We were encouraged to carry out our own initiatives, independently from our organization or our own projects within the existing organization. I decided to try and launched a student project 'Helpful eyes'. 40 students read books loud for blind people from Warsaw. And they became friends to date.' Marta Kaszubska 91% of the respondents claimed that the BUS brought changes in their lives. The program: 1. gave them an opportunity to meet a group of enthusiasts, people with the same goals and similar point of view 55% 2. was an opportunity to make new friends 33% 3. helped them establish their organizations 32% or changed their opinion about the citizen sector 32% 4. helped them understand themselves better 18%; they believed that helping people makes sense 11% 5. made them resign from a job in business 8% and look for a job opportunity in a citizen organization 8% 6. did not bring about any changes for only 8% of the respondents. How the Alumni described the changes that the BUS brought into their lives: 'Just after the program I carried out my social-business projects and worked with two citizen organizations. As a result I still work in business. All sorts of experience are valuable and add to what the BUS gave me. In the future I would like to engage in citizen initiatives maybe not tomorrow but one day for sure it will happen.' Maciek Baryłka 'I gained trust in my own vague ideas, I learned to be patient and prepare properly for the projects, I have my own plans for citizen engagement. I learn to think not just about the ideals, but I also look for creative opportunities to engage business people in citizen initiatives. Meeting Ashoka Fellows gave me an idea of how much you can get and do thanks to the change of your own attitude. And with the community you live in. Everyone a Changemaker - BUS Alumni, children and youth are changing the world during street happening for the launch of VI edition of the BUS program in Poland. 13

14 PART F - General questions Part F was meant as a tool to create a profile of a potential participant of the future editions of the BUS, to adjust the selection process, to choose the elements of the program to focus on, and to trigger discussion on the role and existence of the Alumni Club. According to 89% of the respondents the field of studies of the candidates does not matter. 18% agreed that various group of young people should participate in the program: current students, young people already employed in the citizen sector and young leaders should be allowed to apply for the program. A candidate applying to the program should: 1. present their own project according to 83% 2. be obliged to carry it out throughout participating in the program 71% 3. receive a financial support for the project 69%. The respondents said that the candidates do not: 1. need to have experience with citizen organizations 63% 2. are not supposed to pay the entry fee - 73%. 77% of the respondents also suggested stipends for the less wealthy participants: 'Because PLN 1500 [approx. USD 500] do not lie on the street and I had to spend that much for an internship outside my town. My situation is not that bad but what about the really poor but intelligent people?' Kasia Godlewska More than 90% of the respondents said that the workshops with business representatives and internship in a citizen organization are very important elements of the program. 'Thanks to the workshops I could experience some topics in practice. Workshops are the best part of the program because they provide an opportunity to meet other people with whom one can generate new ideas for our projects and others. Interaction with the participants, games and fun combined with - most critical!!! - learning from Ashoka Fellows gave the workshops the magic air that lasted for long.' Damian Hamerla 'If the workshops are lead by Ashoka Fellows and that is the way it should be they show some working standards which you can use in your own work. The participants can also watch each other's work and learn from it.' Mariusz Nikiciuk 'The workshops encourage creative thinking, engage the whole group, you can learn from one another.' Katarzyna Wesner Engagement of business representatives: 'It is good to know the business perspective. Their factual understanding of reality can be useful while developing social projects. Engaging them in workshops can also result in making them more sensitive to social issues.' Damian Hamerla 'In all citizen initiatives money is essential. You have to know how to work with business, what are their expectations. Business should be an ally and it is worth working with it.' Rafal Kania 14

15 'Successful collaboration of three sectors business, local governments and citizen organizations is a key to improvement and local development. The participants should be taught how important inter-sectoral dialogue is and what benefits come from it.' Magdalena Mentrak Practical working experience at Ashoka Fellows organization has been equally important 'For a student internship in a professional citizen organization is an outstanding opportunity to acquire valuable experience. For the organization it can be useful in developing new schemes and improving methods of their work.' Pawel Kozub 'It allows you to admire, learn also on errors and develop a master-student relationship. The only thing to be changed is to make sure all Fellows have time and will to take care of the student.' Agata Michalak 'Internship, especially if it is as long as in my edition, gives students an opportunity to change gradually, something that cannot occur during few day workshops. To my knowledge, most of the internships matched the students interests and inspired them to carry out their own projects.' Magda Szeniawska 91% of the respondents agreed that the BUS Alumni Club should exist. Among other opinions, most of the respondents support the idea of annual meetings and creating an online platform (76%). Why BUS Alumni Club is needed 'In everyday life it is also important to attend an integration meeting with a drop of substance concrete educational program. The BUS Alumni is a right group of people to do it. It could be still better if some Ashoka Fellows attend the meetings as well. A system where the Alumni update the information about themselves could be introduced inside the Ashoka website and be available to other Alumni after logging in.' Mariusz Nikiciuk 'The BUS Alumni Club should be a source of information about sorts of activities the Alumni are engaged in. It is not easy to keep regular contact but having a place to find a partner for particular project is essential.' Magdalena Mentrak 'Such meetings give us trust that what we do is right.' Krzysztof Drynda 15

16 APPENDIX final comments The respondents pointed out the limited outreach of the program marketing. Not all the possible ways to reach the public were used. Therefore it did not reach many of the young people interested or already engaged in citizen sector. Despite the BUS Alumni Club and five years of the program, integration among the participants is still weak and the Alumni do not receive support and attention they would like to get. More space should be given to promote projects of the active BUS Alumni since they prove the value of the program. Mentoring should be more intensive and engage both parties equally. Internships in Ashoka Fellows organizations should be designed to achieve realistic goals. The BUS participants should establish collaboration with the Ashoka Fellows from the same regions while still in the program. An international BUS edition could be organized. Few of the Alumni pointed out that the choice of some lecturers did not match the topic of their lecture. The problem of salaries in the citizen sector was omitted. Some of the Alumni could be engaged in future editions of the program to show how young social entrepreneurs work. 16

17 CONCLUSION This evaluation study of the BUS program is the first project of that sort. The questionnaire was designed to give answers to questions and hypotheses about the BUS. The Ashoka staff used the gathered data to prepare the next edition of the program. Approximately 50% of participants returned questionnaires. Therefore, the results of the survey are partially representative for all the 5 editions of the program. Conclusion 'Well, it s just like as if you had a carrot and a chicken. Surely, you can crunch the carrot and fry the chicken but if your mum tells you how to cook a soup, you will have a better choice. And if you know, that from what you have, you can make more then just meat with potatoes a really sophisticated dish too it s the same with the BUS.' Kasia Godlewska 17