Partners for Resource and Community Connect (PARC)

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Partners for Resource and Community Connect (PARC-Uganda) is a child-oriented non-profit organization that provide support to marginalized communities across the Rwenzori region of wesetrn Uganda. Founded as a student´ discussion group in 2003 and registered as a community-based organization under the name Luhwahwa Youth Development Foundation (LUYODEFO) in 2006, it has evolved into a charity in response to the plight of communities impacted greatly by the prolonged ethnic conflicts and political wars, poverty and other detriments, such as HIV/AIDS and illiteracy in Kasese, Uganda.

Focus areas:
• Education
• Health
• Sustainability

Programs:
• PARC Learning Centres: PARC operates and manage its own schools (daycare, pre-schools, primary school, and secondary school) such that when our children graduate from nursery school, they can join primary school and when they graduate from primary school they can move on to secondary school to ensure that they remain under our care as we continue to monitor, mentor, and support them through all our integrated programs. These schools also double to also provide after school tutoring (AST) centres, functional adult literacy (FAL) centres, and local hub for the community (children, teachers and parents). Through these schools, orphans get FREE education while other needy children get SUBSIDIZED education.
• Supporting Vulnerable Children: PARC uses an innovative holistic model to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) get an education – go to school, stay-in school, and finish school. PARC actively look for people from all over the world to sponsor children who struggle to raise school fees and scholastic materials for their study. We don’t get sponsorship directed toward individual child because we work to strengthen the whole community, so all children can thrive!.
• School Outreaches: Seeing education as the key to economic development, PARC supports other existing learning establishments (both public and private schools) working together with the local community to improve, consolidate and monitor educational opportunities.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: Poor sanitation and hygiene is a cross-cutting health concern in all rural Ugandan villages. Poor sanitation leads to diarrheal diseases, which are responsible for 17% of all deaths of children under five (World Health Organization). The link between access to safe water, overall health, and the economic opportunities of the people of Kasese is clear, as access to safe water is greatly lacking in many villages.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health: Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services are important for adults and young people in helping to raise awareness about puberty, sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, family planning, and maternal health. It empowers them to make informed decisions about their bodies, improve general health and wellbeing, and overcoming inequality to break the vicious cycles of poverty.
• Parc Clinic and Health Outreaches: In Uganda, the public health system is very poorly developed due to the limited state budget – the few health facilities can only care for a fraction of the population. In rural areas in particular, there is often a lack of affordable basic medical care, advice and preventive services. The shortage of medicines and health products is driving up prices for drugs and medical supplies that are available.
• Centre of Hope: With or without a formal education background, all people can tap into skilling ventures to boost their incomes and improve livelihoods. There is increased recognition that investment in women brings valuable skills, empathy, and an ability to relate to and support others who are accessing the social service system. At the same time, the opportunity to work allows women living in poverty to change their economic status and feel empowered by their contribution to society.
• Art of Hope: Throughout the program, we provide integrated support so that the families can better plan for their future that involves the training of zonal volunteers in OVC care, who then train caregivers and reinforces better care with OVC caregivers during home visits. Additionally, children (OVC) are trained in peer-to-peer counseling so that they may acquire cognitive and business skills that will not only enable them to realize their potential but also improve their interpersonal skills.
• Living with Hope: PARC is committed to helping artisans and farmers bring their products (handmade goods, coffee, and cocoa) to market so they can get decent wages and improve their livelihoods and develop sustainable businesses with the goal of encouraging self-reliance, minimizing rural exodus to urban centers (cities), advancing food security in the community. Rural poverty is complex thus PARC has designed solutions such as value chain development and market facilitation, community tourism and micro-loans.

Ndungo Samuel is the Founder & Director of Partners for Resource and Community Connect (PARC-Uganda).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.