With an objective to make an assessment of progress made, impact created and changes brought about in social development and education projects, FSL-India organised a two-day Final Evaluation for BMZ volunteers. The participatory evaluation was held on 12^th and 13^th June 2012. Altogether 22 BMZ volunteers representing AFS Germany and YAP-CFD Germany participated in the Final Evaluation. It was conducted at St. Joseph Resort, Annagalli, Kundapur in Udupi District. A ten-member team of FSL-India facilitated the Final Evaluation. Objectives of the final evaluation are: 1) to make the volunteers revisit on their travelled path in India so as to justify the present status and provide platform to express their learning, 2) to achieve added development value for the projects in terms of help towards self-help, and 3) to make the volunteers aware of cultural and reverse cultural shock and learn from such experience. During the evaluation the following subjects were dealt with: 

• Feedback on the preparatory seminar/pre-departure training in Germany
• Feedback on the topics dealt with in the preparatory seminar/pre-departure training in Germany and the topics that are not relevant
• Volunteers’ first impression about India
• Feedback on the on-arrival orientation facilitated by FSL-India
• Feedback on usefulness of Quarterly and Mid-Term Evaluations conducted by FSL-India
• Struggles the volunteers underwent and the rewards (personal or project) if any   
• Volunteers’ personal development, contribution towards the project, impact created and results achieved.
• Layers of culture vis-à-vis contradictory cultural practices between India and Germany
• Learning from the cultural and reverse cultural shocks

 

Volunteers who participated in the Final Evaluation are: Anja, Moritz, Andreas, Clara Sophie, Cornelia, Johanna, Nikolas, Anselm, Daniela, Mortan, Clara Popp, Lukas, Marco, Antonia, Yvonne, Maria, Dennis, Nils, Simon, Caroline, Lisa and Sarah.

 

As a preparation and to create a base for the final evaluation, questionnaire was send to each volunteer to collect information on a range of issues pertaining volunteering in India. All the volunteers actively participated in the evaluation. Indeed the Final Evaluation was a learning experience for the volunteers as well as FSL India. Volunteers expressed that the inter-cultural learning and impact created in the project, the experience gained would help them develop a future perspective and interest for development in Germany. It was an opportunity for volunteers to articulate about a great deal of changes that they have experienced in themselves. FSL-India team also expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their committed service for the development of the poor and needy in their respective project. With a symbolic gesture to appreciate and acknowledge the great efforts made by the volunteers, FSL-India team honoured each volunteer with a citation and memento. The Final Evaluation concluded with a valedictory message by Mr. Ranjit Kumar Singh followed by photo session.

To view the video footage click following web-link.

 

http://youtu.be/d8txVBiUhhU