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Measuring Impact

 What we measure

how we make sure OUR PROGRAMS WORK

Our programs

Health

Education

Empowerment

Employment

What we measure

When it comes to creating lasting change, it takes dedication, passion and a lot of analysis. Statistics,
research and rigorous follow-up go into every initiative we put in place. It’s how we know what’s working
and what’s not. Each year, we track progress and make modifications to build more effective and impactful
programs for our children and youth.

Why we measure

 

Our programs are built around a concept called “adolescent prevention theory,” which looks at both early accumulated risk and adolescent-onset risk. We know that missing an early milestone makes missing later ones more likely. Early interventions, like the ones offered through our programs, help children meet developmental milestones, provide them with protective factors that may counteract later negative forces, and give them a chance to create lasting change in their lives..

Measuring healthy behaviors

 

Beginning healthy behaviors early helps children and youth reduce their chances of facing preventable disease. We focus on healthy behaviors that have direct, proven results in reducing childhood illnesses and death, while also being simple enough to implement into their daily lives. The healthy behaviors we promote are identified as having the greatest positive effect on the lives of children and youth in our communities.

ORAL
HEALTH..

HANDWASHING
& SAFE WATER

RESILIENCE

ADOLESCENT
HEALTH

NUTRITION
REHABILITATION

MEDICAL
SERVICES

DENTAL
SERVICES

SPECIALTY
PROGRAMS

When it comes to healthy behaviors, we measure:
 
  • Improved attitude: You can know the facts but not believe they are relevant to your life. We measure how children and their caretakers feel about the healthy behaviors we’re encouraging before and after our programs. Do they believe those behaviors are important?
  • Increased self-efficacy: Knowledge and attitude mean nothing without follow through. Sometimes children’s and caretakers’ environments hinder their ability to make healthy changes. Sometimes they just need confidence to carry on. We measure whether they believe they can stick with these healthy behaviors.
When it comes to the use of health services, we look at these results:
 
  • Improved availability: Ensuring children can get to nearby providers when they are open and at times that               work for their families.
  • Improved affordability: Removing financial roadblocks for families so children can get the care they need.
  • Increased accessibility: Educating families to help them understand when to see a health care provider and         how to find the services they need.
Results in action
 

96%

brush twice
daily

ORAL HEALTH

At the end of our Oral Health program, 100% of children and youth own a toothbrush and toothpaste, 98% can demonstrate correct brushing technique, and 96% say they now brush twice a day — that’s something to smile about.

89%

demonstrated
correct
handwashing

ORAL HEALTH

In 2018, 33,926 children and youth completed our Handwashing & Safe Water Promotion program. Before the program, just 38% knew when they should wash their hands. After completing the program, 89% of our children and youth demonstrated correct handwashing (with soap and water) and reported washing before eating and after playing outside, using the toilet and handling the garbage.

93%

of youth
were practicing
self-care

RESILIENCE

Our Resilience program focuses on self-care, identifying emotions and self-calming exercises for children and youth. In 2018, Mexico entered its second year for children ages 6 to 12, while India embarked on its first year for ages 12 to 18. After the program, 92% of caregivers in Mexico said their child could identify both their own emotions and others’. In Kolkata, 93% of youth were practicing self- replenishment following the program, showing they are capable of self-care.

49%

decrease in
substance
abuse

ADOLESCENT HEALTH

Our Adolescent Health program led to a big reduction in the number of youth who self-reported substance use, including a 49% decrease in the number of adolescents abusing drugs. Reducing adolescent substance abuse leads to further positive life choices, reduces risky behaviors and increases life expectancies. We saw a 66% increase in the number of youth who are comfortable discussing and purchasing contraceptives after taking our program.

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35%

decrease in
substance
abuse

OBESITY

After participating in our nutrition programs, 35% of participants decreased their BMI, and there was a 20% increase in parents who reported healthy home-environment behaviors.

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95%

of children and
youth received
dental services

DENTAL

In 2018, 95% of children and youth in our program received the dental services they needed and 83% utilized services provided by our program.

Winning big In 2018, 97% of the children and youth in our program received the primary health care they needed.

Did you know?

Currently, more than 50 percent of the global population lacks access to necessary health services. Paying for health care expenses forces 100 million people into extreme poverty every year. Health care inequalities are stark. For example, high-income countries have 10 times the number of doctors as lower-income countries.

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Learn about education programs


When I grow up, I want to be a nurse so I can help little kids like me.

— CLOWIE, SPONSORED CHILD, PHILIPPINES

 

Measuring education

 

Without the foundation of an education, children can’t envision a life for themselves beyond their circumstances. Living in poverty, many children fall behind and often drop out of school, leading to a future of drugs, violence or chronic unemployment. Our programs provide resources, safe spaces to study and tutoring support to help children and youth reach graduation day.

PROVIDING
NECESSITIES

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

EDUCATION
FOR PARENTS

TUTORING

COMMUNITY
CENTERS

LEARNING
SPACES

EDUCATION
FOR PARENTS


When it comes to education, we measure:
 
  • Increased secondary school completion: We measure success by identifying the percentage of sponsored Children International graduates who reach this milestone by age 24.
  • Increased school enrollment:We measure the percentage of sponsored children who are enrolled in any level of formal education.
  • Increased achievement of identified learning outcomes: We measure the percentage of sponsored children who achieve minimum proficiency standards for their age or grade level.
Results in action
 
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97%

graduated
from secondary
school

HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS

The HOPE Scholarship Fund allows qualified youth to advance their educations in secondary school, vocational training institutes or at the college and university level. Each year, Children International awards thousands of HOPE scholarships. In 2018, 99% of scholarship recipients finished the school year and 97% advanced to the next grade level or graduated from secondary school.

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92%

improved their knowledge

TUTORING

Our tutoring programs are designed to help children who have fallen behind catch up, graduate from high school and continue their educations. In 2018, 19,592 students in our program completed math tutoring while 18,488 completed literacy training. Some students did both, bringing the total number of students tutored to 23,763. 92% of students who received math and literacy tutoring improved their knowledge in either or both subjects.

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92%

  of participants in Kolkata improved their science skills

LEARNING SPACES

Formal learning activities at Children International libraries boost math, science and literacy skills, helping students work toward secondary school graduation. Creative learning opportunities in our community center libraries (clubs, workshops, innovative programs) help children stay engaged and on track for secondary school completion. Colombia, India and the Dominican Republic achieved 100% completion rates. The Dominican Republic and Kolkata beat their goals for increased student proficiency in both math and literacy. In Kolkata, 92% also improved their science skills. In Colombia, 98% of learning space participants increased their literacy proficiency.

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87%

   of participants increased their knowledge

TUTORING

Our tutoring programs are designed to help children who have fallen behind catch up, graduate from high school and continue their educations. In 2018, 19,592 students in our program completed math tutoring while 18,488 completed literacy training. Some students did both, bringing the total number of students tutored to 23,763. 92% of students who received math and literacy tutoring improved their knowledge in either or both subjects.

Winning big Throughout our program, 97% of our population finishes fifth grade — a key milestone to continuing education. And 90% complete lower secondary school, or 10th grade.

Did you know?

Education is a powerful driver of development and is one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace and stability. - The World Bank.

GIVE TO OUR HEALTH PROGRAMS

Give to our health programs
Learn about health programs


Coming to the library has changed my life because, without the library, I would probably have been one of the drug abusers in the community. I have read books that discourage drugs and alcohol, and now I am even able to tell my friends to come to the library to study instead of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.”

— ARNOLD, 15, ZAMBIA

 

Measuring empowerment

 

Many children and youth in our communities have never seen an example of someone finishing school, achieving their dreams or breaking free from poverty. It’s why empowerment is so important when we talk about giving children and youth the confidence they need to create lasting change in their lives. Empowerment programs give children hope for the future and important life skills like, problem-solving, creative-thinking, leadership and more.

GAMES
& SPORTS

ART

YOUTH
COUNCIL

FINANCIAL
EDUCATION

YOUTH
REPORTERS

When it comes to empowerment, we measure:
  •  
  • Strengthened life skills, measured by the percentage of individuals who self-report having a strong                competency in the long list of essential life skills as defined by the World Health Organization    Life s             Skills include: self-awareness, critical thinking, effective communication and more.
  • Increased social responsibility, measured by data that identifies the percentage of individuals who            self-report having a strong competency in social responsibilitySocial responsibility includes: Empathy,        conflict resolution, valuing group work and more.
Results in action
 
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97%

reported strong life skills

COMMUNITY YOUTH REPORTER

92% of participants who complete the Community Youth Reporter program say they have strong life skills.

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6,800

   performed in their community

ART

In 2018, over 6,800 young artists and musicians performed or held exhibits in their communities.

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150,000

people helped

YOUTH COUNCIL

Youth Councils across all Children International locations completed community-service projects that helped over 150,000 people in their communities.

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5.4

   million
served

AFLATOUN

Aflatoun International serves 5.4 million internationally, including Children International sponsored youth.

Winning big In the past three years, we’ve upped our investment in empowerment programs by 119% and it shows. In 2018, 69,466 children and youth participated in empowerment programs — a 7% increase. The total number of empowerment program volunteers has gone up 43% to 4,947.

Did you know?

The Search Institute conducted a study finding that youth in developing countries who have higher levels of social development (like empowerment, positive self-identity and social skills) also show better outcomes in areas like employment, health and education.

GIVE TO OUR HEALTH PROGRAMS

Give to our empowerment programs
Learn more about our empowerment programs

For me, Children International is a door to success. CI has had a great impact on me because it helped me grow as a leader. This program changes lives — it changed mine. I participated in almost all the programs here. Now, I am a volunteer, teaching the kids everything I learned.”-

— DAYANA S., 22, CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE

Smart giving

 FY 2020, 85% of our total operating expenses supported programs for children and youth.

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Annual Report PDF
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