Step 6

vortex methodology

introduction

The most effective social change is brought about when multiple community stakeholders are included in discussion and action of integrated solutions. We have identified four key ‘fields’ that are both necessary for our projects, but also have great influence over the ability of our projects to succeed and the direction that they will go. These fields are community, local group, development agency, and donor. The expectations, biases, and needs of each field vary, but the outcomes that yield the best results are those that are produced by the strengths, collaborative efforts, and contributions of each.

In ‘vortex’ methodology, community, local group, development agency, and donor all participate in identifying the need, crafting a message that suits this need, coaching change agents within the target community, and evaluating the outcome. Throughout this process there is a transformation of mindset, values, attitudes, and behaviors within each field. The message itself is informed by each field, transformed in dialogue, produced into culture change tools, delivered back to the field through change agents, and evaluated according to the desired outcomes.

characteristic

method

Diagnosis: Four fields (community, church, NGO, and donor) identify and research the perspectives and needs from each of the fields.
Dialogue: The perspectives from each field are subject to a creative process of reflexive dialogue in order to develop a culture change message.
Development: The culture change message, captured in a variety of messaging tools, is collected and developed via tools, manuals, social media, print media, and training materials to support the culture change message. These are then tested, evaluated, and further developed with churches, communities, CBOs, and with donors.
Distribution: These tools are given back to culture change agents in the fields (field workers, pastors, coaches, fund-raisers, and clubs) through disseminating tools in training and consultancy.
Duplication: There is a reiterative process as systems and cultures change, so new ideas and methods are raised within the different fields. These come back to the team and are tested and disseminated.
Design practical community actions that can be delivered by churches into their community. These actions provide community based social safety nets that aim keep children in families rather than placed into institutions, unless the family is seen as unsafe for the child.

the approach is

Informed by each field,
Transformed in dialogue,
Produced into culture change tools,
Delivered back to the field through change agents, and
Evaluated according to outcomes.