Main research question

What is the impact of the JAI organised visits and programmes on the students who took part

Methodology

Primary research was gathered through the use of surveys. Students that attended the JAI programmes and visits between the years 2009 to 2016 were emailed surveys in order to collect sufficient information to carry out an impact report. Unfortunately, the response rate was too small to carry out sufficient research (58 responses).

Summary of data collected from the surveys

The responses gave us in the JAI office an understand at what level of impact the visits and programmes campaign had on the students who had taken part in it.

The impact of the campaign increased the level of activism that the students were involved in on return to their home country. Before the students went to Palestine 82.2% were not involved in any activism, advocacy or solidarity groups. This number decreased to 70.4% of students. This tells us that the impact of the campaign has been positive in terms of continuing advocacy which is a fundamental part of the JAI campaign.

The surveys also gave information into how the students continued advocacy prior to being involved in the campaign. The students got involved in giving lectures to large crowds, in one case to over 500 people. Presentations were given to Churches, families and schools as well as some students becoming more involved in the BDS campaign. The surveys were able to outline the main obstacles that prevented students from getting involved. These reasons varied but for majority of students who did not continue any advocacy on return was down to lack of time. By gathering this information, the JAI will be able to advise further students on ways to advocate that are less time consuming.

The survey outlined that 94.7% of students had a better understanding of the situation on ground in Palestine after their visit with the JAI. The impact of the JAI campaign gave 92.7% of student the inspiration to advocate for Palestinian rights in the future. The level of impact that the campaign had on the students varied but has been overall positive with 53.6% of students saying that the impact was positive and 41.1% saying the impact was very good while only 5.3% saying that the impact was good.

The response to the surveys gave the JAI an idea of what the students saw as the most effective way to advocate- 25.9% said social media, 14.8% pressure on the government, 7.4% said to join a solidarity group, 13% said other while 31.5% said to join the Palestinian network for the YMCA / YWCA. This was a positive result in that the majority of students choose campaigns such as the JAI campaigns as the most effective way to advocate.

The overall results of the responses that were received were that the JAI campaign has a good level of impact on those who took part in the campaign. However, the unsatisfactory response rate to the surveys meant that an in depth impact report was unable to be written.