Позитивные изменения. Том 1, №1 (2021). Positive changes. Volume 1, Issue 1 (2021)

"I went to this project to support my disabled mother, who was very interested in this type of creativity. I didn't notice how I got carried away! I watched master classes and made toys with pleasure. My mother was also very helped by this project: a few years ago she had a stroke, after that she was depressed for a very long time, but this project inspired her! Fine manual skills greatly help recovery, and depression disappeared like magic! In the future, we plan to make such wonderful toys for sale. Many thanks to such an excellent team of professionals! We look forward to the next stage!"

(Female, 34 years old)

"I came out of long-time depression related to disability and job loss. This is the main and very significant achievement for me. Thanks to the Project for the opportunity to continue living a life of joy."

(Female, 55 years old)

"I am grateful to the project not only for the skills and knowledge gained, but also for the opportunity to get a psychological «escape» through my own creativity under the guidance of Masters."

(Female, 48 years old)

These outputs suggest that the project helped its participants to improve psychological well-being.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT SOCIAL IMPACT

The logical model of the project laid down the expected social outcomes and social impact for the charity recipients under the project and indicators to measure them. Given this logic, in conclusion, we will give an overall assessment of the project social impact.

The expected social outcomes included the following aspects: obtaining knowledge in the field of technologies for making quilted toys, the possibility of additional earnings through the sale of toys and the prevention of burnout. Indicators to determine the extent to which these outcomes were achieved: the number of those who received knowledge, the number of people selling toys and reaction to emotional recovery. The project social impact was defined in the model as an increase in the level of well-being of disadvantaged groups (that is, the project target audience), the assessment of which included the number of charity recipients who sold toys and the fact of employment in the Manufacture. Thus, 91.7 % of the surveyed participants made quilted toys, which they were taught during the project, 21.5 % were able to sell such products, while with a subjective assessment, 29 % of respondents noted that the project had a positive impact on their economic status. It’s likely that some participants feel a general sense of change in their life, as well as assess their prospects for the future, as more than half said they want to continue to produce and sell quilted toys, and 31 % have already created their pages to sell products. It can also be supported by a general thesis about the long-term, «time lags» of social effects in impact investment projects. The respondents’ comments indicate their emotional uplift, as well as the partial resolving of psychological problems and the general stress release. 10.4 % of respondents entered the project working group to perform commercial manufacturing jobs in the Manufacture, according to the organizers, 30 participants got a full time job at the enterprise.

Summarizing all the outcomes of the study, we can say that, firstly, the main goal of the project was partially achieved, although was not in full. Secondly, the project had a strong impact on the psychological well-being of the participants, as evidenced by many figures, as well as respondents’ comments. Third, while the impact on participants’ economic well-being is significantly lower, it should be emphasized once again that the data also show a willingness to continue to engage in new business, to share their knowledge, which can be treated as a potential to get full time or part-time job and solve financial problems in the future.

COMMENTS AT CONCLUSION