Compassion International is committed to partnering with the church to release children and youth from poverty. Program Cycle transforms how we accomplish this by promoting evidence-based outcomes more efficiently and meaningfully. This structured approach allows our Frontline Church Partners (FCPs) to assess, plan, and respond to community needs through data-informed interventions while emphasizing local ownership and active community participation.
What is Program Cycle Adoption?
Program Cycle is an ongoing process that provides church partners with tools to:
Assess Needs: Evaluate the needs of children and youth within their programs.
Plan Interventions: Design targeted interventions, based on the identified needs.
Implement and Monitor: Implement the interventions andmonitor progress through consistent activities.
Evaluate Outcomes: Reflect on and measure the impact to ensure objectives are met.
Through this cycle, our church partners can develop a locally owned, community-specific program plan that genuinely resonates with their environment and available resources. At the heart of this Program Cycle is FCP Planning, a fully participatory process that involves church leaders, children, youth, families, and the broader community. Together, they identify the most pressing needs and set priorities through strategic planning, needs assessments, and intervention selection. This approach ensures that programming is relevant and deeply rooted in the unique context of each community.
Since April 2024, 47 church partners— have joined the program cycle. Over 18,000 youth surveys were conducted, with input from more than 850 pastors, church staff, and tutors. This comprehensive data-gathering effort emphasized several urgent needs, including literacy, numeracy, and access to technical and vocational training for youth. It specifically addressed issues related to youth not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) and the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and income generation opportunities
