Why Monitoring & Evaluation Matters: Measuring Impact with Action Breaks Silence

At The Brand Surgeon, we believe that meaningful change is built on more than good intentions, it is built on evidence, accountability, and measurable impact. That is why we are proud to support Action Breaks Silence (ABS) in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of its school-based programmes aimed at preventing abuse and violence against children.

Recently, our team visited schools in Diepsloot to conduct monitoring and evaluation activities following ABS’s educational workshops. Our role was to assess whether the programme’s key messages had been understood and retained by learners.

One of the methods we used was hand counts, a simple yet effective way of measuring children’s understanding. Learners were asked a series of questions about abuse, violence, personal safety, and where they can seek help. By observing and recording their responses, we were able to gain valuable insights into how well the training had been received and identify areas where additional education or support may be needed.

Monitoring and evaluation is far more than collecting numbers, it is about understanding whether a programme is making a genuine difference. For organisations like Action Breaks Silence, these findings help demonstrate impact to funders, improve future training sessions, and ensure that children are equipped with the knowledge they need to recognise unsafe situations and speak up when they need help.

Seeing learners confidently identify different forms of abuse and understand that violence is never acceptable was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Every child who gains the confidence to recognise harmful behaviour and knows where to seek help represents a step towards creating safer schools and stronger communities.

At The Brand Surgeon, we are passionate about delivering research and insights that help organisations maximize their impact. Through robust monitoring and evaluation, we provide NGOs with the evidence they need to measure success, strengthen their programmes, and make informed decisions that improve lives.

We are honored to partner with Action Breaks Silence in this important work and look forward to continuing our commitment to research that creates lasting social change. Together, we are ensuring that every programme is not only delivered, but measured, understood, and continuously improved to make a meaningful difference where it matters most.