Improved community conditions in a Brazilian slum: A Significant consequence of its evaluation

Abstract

This paper describes the activities of a slum-improvement community Program and its concomitant evaluation, both conducted by a non-profit evaluation organization in Brazil, as well as their imminent consequences. The unique aspects of this experience were: (a) recognizing the community's knowledge for detecting its own needs; (b) selecting the best partnership to develop the activities and a competent team to conduct evaluation and metaevaluation; (c) emphasis on community capacity building in evaluation, self-determination, and self-sustainability, and (d) continuous feedback to partners, sponsors and the community. Some visible consequences of this evaluation were: (a) an observed increase in the number of children in school, their performance and respect for moral values, (b) reduced violence, sex abuse, child labor and drug consumption and (c) a notable impact on the evaluating organization itself seen in their commitment to building an innovative methodology. Hopefully the betterment of the present situation is predictive of a dignified future opening up for the community.