Measuring change on the level of the participant is a relatively straightforward affair for most organisations, which are used to inputting numbers to track a participant through a programme and measure her growth and change throughout. Measuring change on the community level is not so straightforward, because of the multitude of stakeholders and community members who all interact with a programme in different capacities. Many organisations are interested in measuring the changes of a girl’s condition and status among her parents/caregivers in relation to her participation in a quality sports programme.
Through different measurement tools, we can measure why and how high-quality sport programmes for adolescent girls contribute and further stimulate positive change in their communities and creating enabling environments. They will also inform partners about the gaps in their work in terms of community awareness and impact. It is important to remember that change in attitudes takes time, and in order to measure it you have to have a long-term plan for gathering information for measurement. Measurement of impact should be continuous and periodic, not just once a year. Create a plan and, most importantly, involve the community in the process.