ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Theory of change

Well, imagine you have an idea to make a change in the world. Let's say you want more trees to be planted in your neighborhood. But how do you make sure that your idea actually works and makes a difference? That's where the theory of change comes in.

The theory of change is like a map that helps you plan and understand how your idea will create the change you want. It helps you think step-by-step about all the things that need to happen for your idea to be successful.

First, you need to start by thinking about what you want to change (more trees) and why it is important (they make the air clean and provide shade). Then, you think about what needs to happen for that change to occur. This is called your hypothesis.

Your hypothesis might be that if you give people free tree saplings and teach them how to plant and care for them, they will be motivated to plant more trees in their front yards. This is what you believe will lead to the change you want.

Next, you think about who you need to involve in your plan. You might need the help of the local government to provide the free tree saplings and educators who can show people how to plant and care for the trees.

Now, it's time to think about what resources you will need. Resources can be things like money, time, and materials. To give out tree saplings, you will need to find a way to get them and maybe even find a place to grow them before giving them out.

Once you have your plan, you will want to test it to see if it really works. You might start by giving a small number of tree saplings to a few people and seeing if they actually plant them. If it works, you can try to scale it up and give out more saplings to more people. If it doesn't work, you can think about what went wrong and try to make changes to your plan.

As you keep testing and making adjustments, you will be able to see if your idea is really making a difference and creating the change you want. This is why the theory of change is so important. It helps you think through your idea, plan it out, and make sure it has the best chance of success.
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