PaCT
Partners for Community Transformation
Contributing to the development of sustainable water, hygiene, and sanitation in central Uganda using schools as a catalyst for transformation.
PaCT + Blood:Water Partnership
In partnership with Blood;Water, Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT) is improving access to sustainable clean water and improved hygiene and sanitation (“WASH”) practices in 6 schools and surrounding communities in the Kassanda district of Uganda. In order to address these issues, PaCT is using the Three-Star model approach developed by UNICEF and the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports. In this model, schools and their host communities will create the minimum conditions for healthy, hygiene-promoting schools using local resources. The approach is specifically designed to be affordable and participative, engaging all key stakeholders at the national and local level including the Ministry of Education and Sports, Local District, schools, community members and other partners.
The goal of the current project with Blood:Water is to improve the quality of hygiene behavior change programmes in 6 schools by June 2025.
PaCT will accomplish this by:
- Contributing to the increased access to sustainable, safe, and clean water and sanitation facilities in the 6 schools
- Building the capacity of learners and teachers on proper hygiene, sanitation and nutrition practices and menstrual hygiene management in the 6 schools
Health Context
Of the 103 primary schools in the Kassanda District, only 46% of schools have the capacity to avail some drinking water within the school premises, and only 44% of the schools had hand washing facilities for pupils in the school compound. Overall, 85% of the schools in the district are far below the national standards of WASH in schools.
Hygiene education for learners is not consistently provided in most schools, and the lack of access to standard handwashing and sanitation facilities exacerbates the issue. Girls suffer when their schools lack private and clean sanitation facilities, as they have no place to manage their periods. As a result, many girls are forced to drop out of, or miss significant portions of school once they reach adolescence. Also, nutrition for children under 5 years of age is a major concern in the communities, as many children in the area are malnourished.
Partner History
Partners for Community Transformation (“PaCT”) was established in 1995 with the mission to “support and positively contribute to the lives of vulnerable Ugandans in order to help them attain full recognition in society through the provision of education support, poverty relief initiatives, health systems strengthening, human rights awareness and embracing Christian values.” In the WASH sector, PaCT focuses on public partnerships with communities and government stakeholders to intentionally bring grassroots structures and governments together for more sustainable practice.
PaCT was previously known as Mityana Uganda Charity until May 2018 when the Board of Directors in consultation with different stakeholders resolved to re-brand the name to “Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT)” to best represent the organization’s geographical coverage and activities. PaCT has largely been operating in the Mityana and Mubende district in central Uganda with some activities extending into four neighboring districts.
Learn more at pactug.org.
Partnership Timeline: Fourth grant cycle (partnership started in 2017)
