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retrospective

Stories of Change

Stories of Change capture the impact of a program or intervention through specific narratives of events, highlighting the changes that have occurred as a result. They provide rich qualitative data and illustrate the human impact of the work.

60-120 min3-20 peopleHard
When to Use

Use this method when you want to understand the impact of a program or intervention from the perspective of the people who have been affected by it, and to gather compelling evidence of change.

How It Works

Solves: Difficulty capturing the human impact of a program, lack of compelling evidence, limited understanding of unintended consequences.

Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to facilitate this method
  1. 1

    Step 1: Explain the purpose of the Stories of Change exercise and provide examples of effective stories. (15 min)

  2. 2

    Step 2: Participants individually reflect on their experiences and identify a story that illustrates a significant change. (20 min)

  3. 3

    Step 3: Participants write or record their stories, focusing on the beginning, middle, and end of the event. (30 min)

  4. 4

    Step 4: Participants share their stories with the group, discussing the key themes and lessons learned. (30 min)

Facilitator Tips
  • Create a safe and supportive environment for sharing stories.
  • Encourage participants to focus on the specific details of the event and the changes that occurred.
  • Be prepared to facilitate discussions and help the group identify key themes and lessons learned.
Variations
  • Use different prompts to guide the story-telling process.
  • Incorporate visual aids or multimedia elements to enhance the stories.
Source: BetterEvaluation.orgLearn more