Once you have completed a cycle of interfaith service-learning, it’s time to determine next steps based on reflection and assessment from completed efforts. Consider the following:

Reflect on Goals and Quality

• Reflect on the service, learning, and growth goals you set when you began the previous process. How much progress did you make toward meeting them? If you made a lot of progress, do you want to continue in the same direction, go to a new level, or tackle a new set of goals? If you didn’t make a lot of progress, what got in the way? Do you want to try a different angle, or what other lessons could you apply the next time?
• How have interfaith relationships changed since you began? Are there areas that need to be the focus of additional work? Are there additional faith groups that may be ready to participate now that they can see the quality and results of your initial efforts?
• Revisit the quality standards for service-learning? What have you learned from your previous project in light of these standards? What might you do differently the next time to improve quality?

Talk with Participants and Partners

• Talk with leaders in participating religious institutions. Where do they see the next opportunities? What will help build their commitment to interfaith service-learning?
• Talk with community partners. Are they interested in another partnership? What would make it work best for them? Or is your group ready to connect with different partners (recognizing that strong partnerships grow across multiple projects? In that case, connect with potential new community partners to address issues from a new perspective or that bring new opportunities to the table.
• Talk with youth who may be graduating out of your program. How will they renew and sustain their commitment (in your program or community, or elsewhere)? Are there opportunities for them to take leadership roles to mentor younger youth?
• Talk with younger youth and others who may want to become part of the program, including a new generation of leaders. What interests, passions, and skills do they bring that might influence the direction of your next projects?

Explore Options for Next Steps

• Review the various elements of sustaining an interfaith service-learning effort. Are there issues or challenges that need particular attention? How might that affect your next steps?
• Revisit the results of the investigation phase for your previous project. Do the findings and priorities still ring true, allowing you to begin preparation for a new project based on the previous investigation. Or do you need to repeat the investigation phase to make it more current, rigorous, or relevant to young people who may be joining the program for the first time.

Begin the interfaith service-learning cycle again, this time with more depth, quality, and impact.