To develop or evaluate an action plan.

The image of a bridge over a river (or road) is used to show the steps taken from the past to the current of future situation. The image helps to assess both the steps needed to achieve the change (the bridge) and the change itself (the difference between the old and new situations).

Steps in the process

1. On a large piece of flip chart draw a river with a bridge over it. The left hand bank of the river represents the 'before' situation, the planks of the bridge represent the 'action plan' or steps taken, and the right hand side of the river represents the 'after' situation.
2. Ask participants to draw / write about the situation before their action plan (the left bank of the river).
3. Then ask them to draw / write about the bridge that they decided to use to achieve the desired change. What were the steps involved (planks of the bridge)?
4. Finally ask them to draw / write about the situation as it is after the crossing the river (after the action is taken).
5. Discuss.

Questions for discussion

• What was the situation before?
• What was done to solve the problem? What steps did you take?
• How are things now? What has changed? What has not changed? 
• What made change happen?
• The the change affected everyone in the same way?

References

• Counting Seeds for Change: A framework for implementing, monitoring and evaluating Reflect, SARN, 2009, p. 96-97.