The event was primarily aimed at educators, teachers, administrative and managerial staff of Salesian social works in America, and saw some 160 people involved who represent provincial social work teams, Planning and Development Offices, NGOs, Mission office leaders and Salesian networks around the world.
During the two days the following topics were addressed:
- What is social impact and why is it so important today?
- Moving towards utopia: a theory for change.
- Impact management
- Measuring the impact: why?
- Tools for measuring social impact
Through the intervention of various subject matter experts and the sharing of best practices, seminar participants were able to learn how to improve their efficiency; achieve their mission; acquire legitimacy and authority through the use of methodologies to measure the impact and social value of their programs; obtain the tools to make data-driven decisions.
It should be noted that the seminar was also attended by representatives of the Salesian Network, Brazil (RSB) – the body that coordinates the initiatives carried out by Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in that country – who were able to listen to the Salesian social action groups of the RASS and share some of their projects and best practices.
For example, on the second day of the work, the one dedicated to discussion and sharing within the Salesian Family of America, the Social Action Formator for the RSB, Eduardo dos Santos Batista, led a presentation on the stages of Salesian Social Action in Brazil, which began with a brief history of the path of the RSB and shed light on the main initiatives of the network in support of children, teenagers and young adults in situations of social vulnerability in Brazil: from Fundamental Commitments of the Salesian Social Action to Notebooks on Educative and Pastoral Identity, which guide the work of all the RSB social works; from the "ProRede" and "Generation 2030" projects, to the "SIGAR/Compass" platform which allows immediate access to measurements of what is done in the social works throughout the entire country.
For her part, the National Coordinator of Salesian Social Action within the RSB, Carolina Neves Oliveira, commented: “It was a very rich experience and a unique opportunity to participate in the ‘Measuring Change’ Seminar … We still have a lot to do, but it is gratifying to realise the efforts made to consolidate networking on behalf of our young people. And measuring the impact of our actions means striving to further improve our work and our commitments.”
The 12-13 July meeting was part of the program of activities foreseen by the RASS Strategic Plan for 2023-2026, whose objective is "Strengthen the professionalisation of the Social works educative and pastoral communities through opportunities for formation, research and critical analysis."
For those who wish, it is still possible to attend the two working sessions: day 1 – day 2.
Sources: RSB Communication Team and RASS Facebook page
