Impactevaluation buddy-projects

In a buddy project, a participant in need of support is paired with a volunteer who can provide that support. In this research proposal, titled 'Buddies with Impact,' we describe how we want to contribute to this knowledge need, with the central research question: What impact do buddy projects have on participants, volunteers, and the broader society, and how can the organizations of the buddy projects enhance this impact? First, we examine impact from 1) effectiveness, which concerns the predefined and intended goals, and 2) significance, which encompasses the broader changes that those involved experience themselves. Next, we move on to 3) craftsmanship: how can buddy projects further professionalize and increase their impact. We employ various methods for this, such as Theory of Change sessions, the Impact Calculator, interviews, and questionnaires.