Our program is extensively evaluated each year by our beneficiaries, the youth Volunteers who travel to Latin America to serve others. Our Volunteer Experience Survey asks Volunteers to rate the effectiveness of training programs, project support and materials, living arrangements, and overall impact on their lives. We take the results of this survey very seriously, and carefully review the entire evaluation questionnaire for areas where we can improve.  Included are the results of the Summer 2008 Volunteer Experience Survey Results to illustrate the evaluation.  Volunteers also receive personal performance evaluations at the end of their service project.

 

A second important evaluation technique is our host community participatory evaluations. Partner agencies, host community leaders and Volunteers meet to discuss and document the success of the projects Volunteers have completed. The leaders document project highlights and successes, recount lessons learned and discuss their recommendations for the next year. These evaluations consistently demonstrate the meaningful impact AMIGOS Volunteers have on the host communities they work with and help us improve our programs year after year.

 

Another method of evaluation is a satisfaction survey given to Chapter Presidents in our chapter cities. This feedback helps our organization better support the adult volunteers who manage the individual chapters and ensures we are aware of organizational strengths and weaknesses. This survey also helps identify new materials or training needs identified by the Chapters.

 

Finally, we evaluate the success of our efforts by measuring the strides made in increasing Volunteer diversity, as increased socioeconomic, racial and ethnic diversity is a fundamental priority that strengthens every component of the AMIGOS programs.

 

Evaluation is an essential tool and core component that directs our work. Every year, AMIGOS conducts an extensive survey to determine what outcomes the program is having on the participating youth Volunteers. Thus, we have strong trend data that shows the significant impact our program has on participants.  

In 2009, Volunteers reported: