Empowering Change: YTN’s Transformative Theory of Change Training with Safiya Ibn Garba
Amman, Jordan - As the YTN team delves into the new year with great spirits and lots of excitement, we are currently recapping on some of last year's highlights. One of them was, certainly, our fantastic two-part Theory of Change (ToC) training. Last October, the incredible Safiya Ibn Garba, an expert in sustainable development and women’s empowerment, led this training. In so doing, YTN’s efforts to equip our youth leaders with the strategies they need to create real social impact were undoubtably strengthened.
Safiya kicked things off by explaining why the Theory of Change is so important. She broke it down, saying it’s a must-know when it comes to writing grant proposals and securing funding. Plus, it’s essential for shaping donor strategies and bringing clarity to everyone involved in a project, whether it’s the implementing team or the donors. It’s all about making sure everyone is on the same page, understanding what’s expected, and knowing why the chosen intervention is the right one.
Throughout the session, we dove into what "social issues" really mean in our communities and used examples that hit close to home. We brainstormed the kinds of changes we want to see in the world, what actions we need to take to get there, and how we can measure if the change has actually happened. The focus was on making sure we’re addressing the right problems with the right solutions.
We also got our hands dirty by developing our own program theories of change and discussed different ways to measure those changes. The interactive tools like Padlet and Mentimeter kept everyone engaged and helped us think about our goals in new and creative ways.
By the end of the session, everyone walked away with a solid understanding of how to use the Theory of Change to design projects that can actually make a difference. We’re now ready to take action and make a real impact!
A huge thank you to Safiya Ibn Garba for making this session so engaging and for giving us the tools to create positive change in our communities.