Позитивные изменения. Том 1, №1 (2021). Positive changes. Volume 1, Issue 1 (2021) - Редакция журнала «Позитивные изменения»

fifth (21 %) managed to sell several items. At the same time, many (25 %) conducted master classes among colleagues and acquaintances in the production of toys, which suggests that although many still have difficulties with the commercial sale of products, the project participants are ready to share the knowledge gained, thereby expanding the coverage of the social impact of the project. Regarding the sale of products, it is also important to note that probably the barrier to this was the unwillingness to register as an individual entrepreneur or self-employment status, since this would inevitably entail the loss of benefits that many participants receive.

Returning to the goal in the project, we can summarize that at the end of the project, 21 % of the respondents managed to receive income from the sale of manufactured products, which, of course, does not mean exactly the employment, but means the experience of obtaining additional income.

ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF IMPACT

When asked about the change in the family economic status, 29 % of the surveyed participants noted a positive effect, which to some extent meets the goal set in the project to ensure the employment of their target audience.

According to the analysis results, there was established a weak but important relationship (correlation coefficient 0.23) between the family economic and psychological and emotional status. Also the study recorded that financial problems are perceived less acutely where is a positive family atmosphere, which hypothetically may mean that with an additional improvement in the family atmosphere, an unsatisfactory financial status may less often be the subject or cause of conflicts, as well as vice versa — with an increase in economic well-being, psychological and emotional indicators can also be improved. However, in order to study in more detail the nature of this relationship, it is necessary to conduct regression analysis, which was not included in goals of this study. In any case, it is important to document the existence of such a link within the scope of this article.

Although many participants still have difficulties with product marketing, they are ready to share the gained knowledge thereby expanding the scale of the project’s social impact.

39 % of respondents noted a change in the family psychological atmosphere and associate it with their participation in the project. To some extent, this was facilitated by the involvement of children and relatives in joint activities in the process of production and sale of quilted toys, which was resorted to by almost 19 % of respondents.

Joint activities in the family also affected the positive changes in relations between relatives: this conclusion is true for 43 % of respondents. At that older women (over 50 years old) significantly more often note such positive changes (correlation coefficient 0.249).

Respondents highly appreciated the project impact on their subjective well-being: 74 % gave the maximum ratings of «4» and «5». The concept of subjective well-being in this case included the following indicators: a sense of self-confidence after the project, self-expression as a creative person, the reduction of stress after participating in the project, a sense of involvement in the project and an increase in self-evaluation from participation in the project.

In this case, also it will be appropriate to cite some respondents' quotes related to evaluation of the project impact on them:

"I went to this project to support my disabled mother, who was very interested in this type of creativity. I didn't notice how I got carried away! I watched master classes and made toys with pleasure. My mother was also very helped by this project: a few years ago she had a stroke, after that she was depressed for a very long time, but this project inspired her! Fine manual skills greatly help recovery, and depression disappeared like magic! In the future, we plan to make such wonderful toys for sale. Many thanks to such an excellent team of professionals! We look forward to the next stage!"

(Female, 34 years old)

"I came out of long-time depression related to disability and job loss. This is the main and very significant achievement for me. Thanks to the Project for the opportunity to continue living a life of joy."

(Female, 55 years old)

"I am grateful to the project not only for the skills and knowledge gained, but also for the opportunity to get a psychological «escape» through my own creativity under the guidance of Masters."

(Female, 48 years old)

These outputs suggest that the project helped its participants to improve psychological well-being.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT SOCIAL IMPACT

The logical model of the project laid down the expected social outcomes and social impact for the charity recipients under the project and indicators to measure them. Given this logic, in conclusion, we will give an overall assessment of the project social impact.

The expected social outcomes included the following aspects: obtaining knowledge in the field of technologies for making quilted toys, the possibility of additional earnings through the sale of toys and the prevention of burnout. Indicators to determine the extent to which these outcomes were achieved: the number of those who received knowledge, the number of people selling toys and reaction to emotional recovery. The project social impact was defined in the model as an increase in the level of well-being of disadvantaged groups (that is, the project target audience), the assessment of which included the number of charity recipients who sold toys and the fact of employment in the Manufacture. Thus, 91.7 % of the surveyed participants made quilted toys, which they were taught during the project, 21.5 % were able to sell such products, while with a subjective assessment, 29 % of respondents noted that the project had a positive impact on their economic status. It’s likely that some participants feel a general sense of change in their life, as well as assess their prospects for the future, as more than half said they want to continue to produce and sell