Visually Impaired Seniors
Active learning
Final conference, Bratislava, 2-3 October 2014
Presentation final results external evaluation
Dominique Danau – SAGO Research (NL)
External evaluation
o Presentation of part of the evaluation results
of the VISAL project.
o Focus on effects of the programme, added
value and sustainability.
External evaluation: process
o Evaluation alongside the project
implementation.
o Contributing to knowledge creation and
improvement.
o Assessment of management issues,
implementation of the project activities and of
the results.
o Mixture of data gathering methods:
• Document analysis.
• Interviews (28).
• Questionnaires (865 in total).
Results on coordination & management
o Coordination and management: overall
positive: effective, constructive, democratic
and professional, leaving sufficient space for
project partners to take initiative.
o Learning approach = important because of the
challenges related to target group and
approach.
o Evaluation procedure: simplification!
• Round 1: improve VISAL programme.
• Round 2: effect of programme on
participants.
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Expectations of participants: not always very
clear; at the end 75% of participants
expressed that they expectations were met.
o Sessions round 1: very positive (8,6/10 to
9,4/10).
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Sessions round 2: very positive again,
especially the facilitators and the overall
logistics were very positive assessed with
average of 4,79/5.
o Learning points of participants:
• New experiences helping facing daily
difficulties – learning from others.
• Getting to know new people – making
friends.
• Respect, self-respect and tolerance.
• Recognition that VI seniors can speak up
and are listened to.
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Profile of participants round 2:
55%
45%
Married with
children: 35%
Widowed: 29%
Average age: 71,25 years
Urban area/city: 79%
Rural area/small village: 5%
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Effects of sessions on life of participants:
o Events effecting the life of the participants.
o Assumption is that VISAL programme will have
positive effect on confidence, mental well-being
and civic engagement of participants.
o Difficulty: filling in forms by participants.
o Participants in round 1 and 2 were not very
isolated citizens
“catch 22”.
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Effects of sessions on self-esteem and confidence:
• A slight increase in average scores for each of
the statements of the scale used (before, after
and 3 months after session 7).
• Refined according to age (lower score on selfesteem and confidence with increasing age).
Changes are most notable for age group 76-85
years.
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in self-esteem and
confidence (age groups)
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in self-esteem and
confidence (men and women)
4.6
4.39
4.4
4.32
4.3
4.2
4.13
4
4.06
3.8
3.72
3.6
3.4
3.2
Women
Before session 1
Men
After session 7
Three months after session 7
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Effects of sessions on mental well-being:
• Use of existing scale in round 1 and round 2:
7-itemed scale with 1 – 5 (max. = 35).
• Average score in round 2 = 25,92/35 (round 1:
26,2/35).
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in mental well-being
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in mental well-being
(age groups)
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in mental well-being
(men and women)
29
28.24
28
27.92
27.55
27.21
27
26
26.59
25
24.92
24
23
Women
Before session 1
Men
After session 7
Three months after session 7
Results: the VISAL sessions
o Effects of sessions on civic engagement
• Series of questions was used.
• Involvement in volunteering, helping
neighbours, involvement in community
associations, groups, clubs, etc.
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in civic engagement (1)
4
3.5
3.31
3.18
3.22
3.07
2.87
3
2.47
2.5
2.39
3.08
2.29
2
1.5
Volunteering work
Before session 1
Mutual help – helping neighbours
After session 7
Community associations, groups, clubs
Three months after session 7
Overall assessment by participants on
changes in civic engagement (2)
4
3.5
3.63
3.57
3.5
3.42
3.42
3.26
3
3.08
2.5
2.51
3.07
3.11
2.3
2.41
2
1.5
Before session 1
After session 7
Three months after session 7
Contacts with neighbours
Contacts with friends
Contacts with family
Contacts with carers other than neighbours, friends or family
Results
o National conferences:
• About 40 participants (and more!) per
conference (participants, facilitators,
organisations working with (VI) elderly people
and policy makers).
• Create opportunities for the active involvement
of seniors at community level; eagerness to
learn; good self-advocates, awareness raising to
address ignorance.
Impact, added value and sustainability
o Impact:
• VISAL programme is about empowerment and
participation.
• Not only about the Toolkit or sessions, but
about the message how to involve VI seniors in
a meaningful and respectful way in society and
that it works.
• Influencing the local habitat through informal
learning opportunities, through involvement
and engagement.
Impact, European added value and
sustainability
o European added value:
• Learn from other experiences:
• From VISAL sessions
• From different cultures in relation to
participation and involvement of VI seniors
and how seniors live their life.
Impact, European added value and
sustainability
• The way forward:
•
“You have made a difference!”
Different initiatives have been announced by partners as
follow-up, for example:
• Implementation of VISAL in the Netherlands.
• The national conferences were kick-off for further
cooperation and networking (Slovakia and Austria).
• Additional round of sessions in Austria and the UK.
• National train the trainer courses (Croatia and UK).
• Creative workshops for seniors in Croatia.
• AWARD in Austria!
d.danau@sagoonderzoek.nl