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Meet Geoffrey, Executive Director for PaCT

 

Journey of Transformation:

In 2001, while attending a vocational school, I embarked on a journey to advocate for improved quality of life for underprivileged populations. I spearheaded the establishment of “The AIDS Challenge Youth Club” in various secondary schools, aiming to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people. This initiative operated under the umbrella of TASO, Uganda’s pioneering HIV/AIDS service organization.

This leadership role laid a solid foundation for my future endeavors. Prior to joining TASO, I undertook various odd jobs, including night security guard and casual construction work, to support my eight siblings and fund their education. In 2004, Betty, then Project Officer at TASO, recognized my passion and dedication during a chance encounter at a construction site in Kampala. She invited me to volunteer with TASO, an opportunity that allowed me to expand my HIV prevention efforts among youth, building on the momentum that started in 2001.

After eight years of dedicated service and significant accomplishments at TASO, I made the bold decision to join a small charity organization in Mityana, Uganda, in 2012. My former manager expressed surprise at my choice, saying, “Geoffrey, we hope you know what you’re doing! You’re leaving a stable job at a well-established organization to take a risk on your future career.” But the reality is I was following my passion of grassroot community transformation, and indeed this, this move proved to be a turning point in my career. After working hard to have Mityana Uganda Charity officially registered as Non-profit and setting up of internal systems, In 2015, we successfully secured funding partnership from Water to Thrive. Over the past decade, our partnership has been transformative, driving growth for individuals, our organization, and the communities we serve. We deeply value this partnership, built on a shared mission to address Uganda’s water crisis, particularly in underprivileged communities.

Our collaboration with Water to Thrive is characterized by transparent and effortless communication, enabling us to meet reporting requirements and plan ahead with ease, thanks to their reliable projections. We cherish the trust and bond between our organizations, feeling valued and supported throughout our partnership. Additionally, the expertise of W2T’s African based project manager has been invaluable, and his in-field presence sets W2T apart from other partners, further solidifying our trust and relationship.

My Role, my Passion:

My personal experiences and desire to transform my community drive my commitment to improving living conditions for underprivileged households. As a total orphan who faced numerous hardships, including lack of access to basic needs like water and food, I understand the struggles of vulnerable communities. My experiences fuel my passion for creating meaningful change through well-designed program delivery models, ensuring economic reliance and better living conditions.

The dedicated team I work with shares my enthusiasm, and together, we’ve achieved significant impact through community projects in education, water, and livelihood. Our partnership with Water to Thrive (W2T) has notably expanded access to clean water from 1,250 people in 2015 to 11,250 annually by 2024. This collaboration has also enabled us to extend our reach to three additional districts, enhance internal systems and processes, and rebrand our organization to “Partners for Community Transformation” (PaCT) to reflect our expanded jurisdiction.

Additionally, our initiatives have led to improved infrastructure in education and maternal and child health, including classroom block and maternity ward construction, equipment provision, child sponsorships, and livelihood interventions. As a result, PaCT has earned recognition as a respected non-profit organization creating sustainable impact in the education and water sectors.

The Entrepreneur In Me:

As a dedicated entrepreneur and coffee farming advocate, I oversee the management of a 78-acre coffee farm, where we harvest, blend, and package high-quality coffee under the brand name “La’ Marc Coffee”. This venture not only generates income but also supports the empowerment of teenage mothers through entrepreneurship training and skills development, fostering economic resilience.

We are committed to collaborating with local, national, and international development partners to drive our community transformation agenda and achieve our strategic objectives. With robust leadership and processes in place, we have made a significant impact on numerous lives and are poised to continue making a difference for years to come.

Our partnership with Water to Thrive has been instrumental in laying a critical foundation of hope and good health within struggling communities through our water projects. Together, we are stronger, and our collective efforts will continue to drive positive change and create a better world.

I am happy that despite the numerous hardships I experienced in my early days, I am happy that my leadership is used to create positive change in lives of many Ugandans. The support from our friends such as those from W2T gives us confidence that there people out that care for the needy communities and we are always glad to host them visit our community projects.

– Geoffrey