Community Involvement
Photo Credit: Martha Nzisa
Pauline Juliet is an organization run by the community, for the community. Our partnership with schools, local government, local leaders, groups, other nonprofits, and individuals is what makes us great. With community as a priority for PJ, we have created several partnerships and groups to assure accountability, accurate representation, and full community input.
PJWEA
Pauline Juliet’s Women’s Empowerment Association is our largest community group. PJWEA is made up of 500+ registered women (and 3 single fathers), as well as over 1,000 registered children. PJWEA projects are created by the women for the women and are often funded by their initiatives as well. Women are given a platform to share at our community meetings. Our Grand Meetings are held 3-4 times a year and smaller meetings are held monthly. PJWEA has 15 representatives voted into their positions by the collective. These executive leaders act as a voice for the PJWEA community.
School Partnerships
Pauline Juliet partners with 29 schools and counting. These schools are pillars of the communities we work with-Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Gulu, etc. Our partnerships are complete partnerships in which we give to schools and schools give to PJ. The schools as entities help represent the community, as well as individual teachers at the schools. We have also worked directly with students. For example, we have done district-wide health surveys (and other surveys) with students to find out how their schools can better equip them. Each partner school additionally has a representative, whether a director or headmaster, as a part of our School Leaders Association. This association creates a forum between different schools in the community and between schools and Pauline Juliet. The group was created to strengthen partnerships and create another form of community representation.
NGO Partnerships
Pauline Juliet works with many local organizations, clubs, and NGOs. Many of these organizations are community run and all of them work in the areas we do or in surrounding communities. This allows us to tap into another perspective of the community, creating a holistic view of the districts with which we work.
Local Leaders
Our work with government officials and leaders is our final piece of the puzzle. We have a history of support from Kiboga’s Mayor, District Councillor, the female and male Councillors, the District Chairperson, local religious leaders, and the area member of Parliament. Some of our staff also work at local government offices. Finally, we always invite local leaders to our Grand Meetings where they often donate, speak to the community, or commit to helping in areas we have addressed.