Background
Partners’ in Community Transformation (PICOT) is a non-profit making local Non Governmental Organization registered with National NGO Board on the 20th day of September 2013. PICOT was formerly known as Koboko Youth in Development (KOYID) founded in 2005 and registered as a Community Based Organization with Koboko District on 25th April 2006. The organization came into existence follow
ing the realization by a group of progressive youths about the development needs and challenges affecting the youth, women and the wider community of Koboko district. Among the challenges noted with concern to be addressed include but not limited to HIV/AIDS, poverty, low education attainment, poor governance, youth unemployment and environmental degradation. Since then PICOT strives at creating meaningful platforms for youth, women, people with disabilities and entire community to participate in community affairs. As such, in all its undertakings, PICOT works in close cooperation with Local Governments and development partners in supporting community driven development initiatives. PICOT’s core program areas include Community Health Promotion and Holistic Education Promotion. Other areas of intervention include Community Economic Empowerment, Community Governance and Environmental Conservation and Organizational Capacity Development. Picot adapts human right approach to program implementation with focus to the rights of vulnerable groups
Vision Statement: Holistically Transformed Communities
Mission Statement: Working with communities to identify, mobilize and utilize the available resources for holistic development
Motto: Inspiring Communities to Transform Lives
Core value, principles and beliefs
1. Voluntarism,
2. Team work,
3. Gender inclusiveness,
4. Accountability,
5. Transparency,
6. Community participation
7. Partnerships. INTERVENTIONS
THE OVERALL GOAL
An empowered, healthy and productive population for the integral development of Koboko District
PURPOSE
To promote positive behaviour change for a responsible, healthy and productive life among the communities of Koboko District
CORE OPERATIONAL AREAS
PICOT focuses on five core areas with the aim of enabling the organization to realize its overriding vision, mission and objectives. These core mandate areas include;
1. Community Health Promotion.
2. Holistic Education Promotion.
3. Community Governance and Human Rights.
4. Environmental conservation campaigns.
5. Community economic empowerment.
6. Organizational capacity development. THEMATIC AREA I: COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION (COHEP)
Broad objective: To promote holistic community health interventions for healthy living
HIV/AIDS prevention and care
Community and household sanitation, clean water and hygiene promotion to prevent infections and outbreak of epidemics
Community and reproductive health promotion (adolescents’ sexual health, family planning, antenatal care, PMTCT, sexually transmitted infections and sensitization on preventable diseases among others)
Behaviour change communication on drug and substance abuse
Care and support for Orphans and vulnerable children as well as people living with HIV
PICOT believes that communities’ are resourceful and that empowered communities are a prerequisite for improving individual and community health. Together with the community, the organization shall mobilize resources and create awareness on the need to promote access to appropriate health services in the community for a healthy living now and in future. THEMATIC AREA II: HOLISTIC EDUCATION PROMOTION
THEME: HOLISTIC EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (HESCODE)
Broad objective: To promote holistic education for sustainable community development
A- School Based Education (SBE)
• Promotion of debate and public speaking
• Career guidance, counseling and mentorship
• Capacity building for teachers, administrators, school management committees and student leaders
• School essay competitions
• Strengthening of school based clubs and associations
• Support initiatives to promote gender sensitive education
• Education Fund to support needy but brilliant children
B- Community Based Education (COBE)
Continuous community sensitization on the importance of education and parent’s involvement in the education of their children
Promotion of Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) in the community
Promotion of non-formal vocational skills training for school drop outs and those who have never been to school. THEMATIC AREA III: COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Community Governance has increasingly gained popularity in the recent development paradigm. It is the community level management and decision-making that is undertaken by, with, or on behalf of a community, by a group of community stakeholders. The focus on ‘community’ rather than organization, local government or the public sector is the distinguishing feature of community governance vis a vis the other forms of governance. However, for community governance to be effective, it must be about more than process, it also must be about getting things done in the community. And what gets done must make a difference with results measured. Community governance shall be guided by the GEM approach as explained below:
G – Democratic governance: Where leadership and decision-making by elected community leaders including Councillors, is based on a sound appreciation of community issues and needs and a commitment to effective community engagement in their own affairs. E – Civic engagement: Where councils employ effective techniques to enable active citizens to influence the formulation and implementation of public policies that affect their daily lives. M – Organization management: Where public value management policies and practices are embedded in the workplace culture, acknowledge citizen participation rights and ensure that the outcomes of community engagement inform decision-making. This approach is preferred because consultation and engagement starts with exploring existing community needs. THEMATIC AREA IV: COMMUNITY ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
We believe that when youth, women and persons with disabilities develop, the community also develops and stands to benefit from their empowerment. Engaging the population in small scale income generating activities at individual, group and household level can act as a spring board for greater economic empowerment to ameliorate perils associated with economic marginalization and manipulation. Economic empowerment is intended to enable communities become more responsible; organize and plan together; develop healthy options; empower themselves; reduce ignorance, poverty and suffering; create employment and economic opportunities; and achieve social and economic goals. Hence imparting life skills and entrepreneurship skills through trainings and other development initiatives are potential platforms that can enhance and harness people’s potentials for integral community development. THEMATIC AREA V: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS
Communities that embrace good environmental practices like tree planting, proper management and disposal of waste and strives for a clean and protected environment substantially contributes to the sustainable well being of its inhabitants. We believe that the community can take charge of its environs for a healthy living now and in future by proactively engaging them on the need to protect and conserve the environment. THEMATIC AREA VI: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Given the growing need for organizations to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment amidst scarce resources, it is prudent that the organization’s technical, logistical and financial mechanisms are mobilized, organized and utilized to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in its undertakings. Therefore, building staff capacities in critical areas of research, financial and programme documentation, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, networking and partnership and strategic planning over time are essential for the organization’s continued growth, relevance and sustainability.
