Did you know that half the people on our planet are age 30 or younger, and this is group is expected to make up 57 percent of the global population by the end of 2030? August marked International Youth Day, an initiative that celebrates people under 30 and recognizes the challenges they face. EnCompass celebrates and supports young people year-round through our EnCompass Learning Center (ELC).
The ELC is committed to strengthening communities and organizations, including (YEEs), through evidence, learning, and leadership development. Our partnership with EvalYouth to provide scholarships for those who are entering our profession is an important part of our Eval4Action commitments.
We are proud to work alongside EvalYouth, and continue offering opportunities for networking, learning, and professional development. From 2020 to 2023, forty-five YEEs received scholarships to attend an ELC workshop. This initiative showcases our dedication to supporting youth as they begin their evaluation careers when access to specialized programs and evaluation courses can help position new professionals for greater success.
Our partners at EvalYouth noted that, “ELC’s inclusive approach not only empowers individuals to develop their skills, but also contributes to the growth and diversification of the evaluation profession.” This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating a more-equitable and robust evaluation community.
The ELC’s scholarships and free online panel events are designed to prepare young and emerging professional evaluators for successful and meaningful careers. By investing in these activities, we aim to help lay the foundation for a generation of evaluators who are skilled, confident, and committed to equity and excellence in their work.
To better understand the YEEs’ experiences, EvalYouth recently conducted a survey of ELC scholarship recipients. The survey findings illustrate the transformative potential of this collaboration, which is reflected in the awardees’ responses:
After completing the ELC courses, scholarship recipients have effectively leveraged their learning to enrich their communities by sharing course-derived tips and skills during projects and discussions, contributing to the growth and development of fellow YEEs, and integrating ELC-acquired insights into collaborative projects between national Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation (VOPEs) and national EvalYouth chapters. The mutual sharing of knowledge within the EvalYouth network highlights how ELC courses contribute to a vibrant and connected community.
By fostering an inclusive learning environment, the ELC scholarships empower YEEs to enhance their expertise and contribute significantly to the EvalYouth community and the broader evaluation field.
Find out how to apply for an EvalYouth scholarship by contacting evalyouth@gmail.com. Scholarships are also announced on the EvalYouth X (Twitter) account: @Eval_Youth. More information on ELC certificates and programs can be found on our website, at https://encompassworld.com/elc/.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the EvalYouth team, especially Gabriela Rentería Flores, Chair of EvalYouth Global Network; Mark Mulobi, Vice-Chair of EvalYouth Global Network; Tamara Kabysh-Rybalka, Secretariat of EvalYouth Global Network; and Safyatou Diallo, Member of EvalYouth Global Network Management Group, for their contributions in developing this blog.
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