A formative evaluation of the development and implementation of the waves for change coach training programme
type: CreativeWork
description: This dissertation reports on a formative evaluation of the initial implementation of the Waves for Change coach training programme. Waves for Change is a NPO that combines the sport of surfing with youth care work (what the organisation terms surf therapy) to provide psychological support to at-risk children. The individuals who provide the support (Coaches) are young adults who are employed and trained by the organisation to become youth care workers. Coaches attend a training programme designed by Waves for Change. There are three Coaching teams to reflect the three target communities of the organisation. The aim of this evaluation was to provide data on its implementation so as to improve its design and delivery. Due to the vulnerable nature of the surf therapy beneficiaries it was crucial for the evaluation to be flexible and to provide management with accurate and rapid feedback. The evaluator conducted a utilization-focused formative evaluation informed by a collaborative developmental approach. This meant that data were collected through well-suited methods throughout the evaluation term (February 2015 - October 2015) and, where appropriate, fed back to management for the purpose of remedying concerns. The Waves for Change programme theory was elicited by the evaluator and depicted in a usable format before its plausibility as well as key assumptions were investigated. The evaluator found the theory to be high in utility and plausibility. Following Chen's (2005) approach to formative evaluation, and in order to determine areas of the Coach Training programme on which the evaluation should focus, the evaluator worked with management to identify components deemed crucial to its delivery. These Crucial Components were identified as: the Implementing Organisation; the Programme Protocol; the Target Population; and Programme Implementation. The evaluator investigated Areas of Focus within each Crucial Component. For the Implementing Organisation component these we…
abstract: This dissertation reports on a formative evaluation of the initial implementation of the Waves for Change coach training programme. Waves for Change is a NPO that combines the sport of surfing with youth care work (what the organisation terms surf therapy) to provide psychological support to at-risk children. The individuals who provide the support (Coaches) are young adults who are employed and trained by the organisation to become youth care workers. Coaches attend a training programme designed by Waves for Change. There are three Coaching teams to reflect the three target communities of the organisation. The aim of this evaluation was to provide data on its implementation so as to improve its design and delivery. Due to the vulnerable nature of the surf therapy beneficiaries it was crucial for the evaluation to be flexible and to provide management with accurate and rapid feedback. The evaluator conducted a utilization-focused formative evaluation informed by a collaborative developmental approach. This meant that data were collected through well-suited methods throughout the evaluation term (February 2015 - October 2015) and, where appropriate, fed back to management for the purpose of remedying concerns. The Waves for Change programme theory was elicited by the evaluator and depicted in a usable format before its plausibility as well as key assumptions were investigated. The evaluator found the theory to be high in utility and plausibility. Following Chen's (2005) approach to formative evaluation, and in order to determine areas of the Coach Training programme on which the evaluation should focus, the evaluator worked with management to identify components deemed crucial to its delivery. These Crucial Components were identified as: the Implementing Organisation; the Programme Protocol; the Target Population; and Programme Implementation. The evaluator investigated Areas of Focus within each Crucial Component. For the Implementing Organisation component these we…
author: Rolfe, Elana
keywords: Programme Evaluation
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:22:55Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Organisational Psychology

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33142