Setting clear, concise, and achievable goals and objectives for a youth leadership development project helps provide direction for the project, enabling all stakeholders to understand what the project aims to achieve. Here’s how you can set goals and objectives:
Establish the Main Goal:
The main goal is a broad statement that outlines the overall purpose of your project. It answers the question, “What do we hope to achieve in the long run?”
Example: “Our main goal is to empower the youth in our community by enhancing their leadership skills and fostering civic participation.”
Define Specific Objectives:
Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). They break down the main goal into manageable, tangible parts.
Example:
“By the end of the 12-month program, at least 80% of participants will demonstrate improved leadership skills, as measured by pre-and post-program assessment tools.”
“Over the course of the project, engage at least 100 young people in leadership workshops and activities.”
“Within six months following the completion of the program, at least 50% of participants will have taken on leadership roles in their schools, community groups, or local initiatives.”
Align Objectives with Activities:
Each objective should align with one or more project activities. For example, if your objective is to improve leadership skills, activities might include workshops on communication, team-building exercises, and mentorship programs.
Set Realistic Expectations:
It’s essential to ensure that your objectives are achievable within your project’s timeline and resources. Overly ambitious objectives can lead to disappointment and undermine the perceived success of your project.
Involve Stakeholders:
Engage stakeholders in the process of setting goals and objectives. This can include project staff, partners, funders, and youth participants. Their input can help ensure that your objectives are relevant and realistic.
Monitor and Evaluate:
Be sure to include methods for assessing your progress towards achieving your objectives. This might involve participant surveys, program evaluations, or tracking involvement in community leadership roles post-program.
The goals and objectives are foundational to your project. They guide your activities, help you track your progress, and enable you to demonstrate the success of your project to funders and other stakeholders.
