ABOUT PACT FOUNDATION
PACT Foundation is a people-first NGO and think tank based in Goa, working to build a fairer future through education and youth empowerment. We combine hands-on programs with evidence-led thinking to strengthen schools, fund deserving students, and create pathways to opportunity that didn't exist before.
Watch Our StoryDespite Goa's reputation as prosperous, thousands of students still learn in crumbling classrooms. Talented young people from marginalised families hit a wall after Class 12 because higher education feels financially out of reach.
Learn MoreWe strengthen the foundations: better school infrastructure, full scholarships, mentoring, exposure to opportunities, and advocacy for systemic change. We work where the need is highest.
Learn MoreWhen you strengthen schools and back young people through the toughest transition years, you don't just change one life—you change families, futures, and communities.
Learn MoreWHAT DRIVES US
To expand access to quality education and unlock upward mobility for Goan youth through stronger school environments, scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development.
A Goa where every child learns in a safe, modern environment, and every deserving young person can access higher education and meaningful careers—regardless of background.
OUR APPROACH
We design programs around what students and schools actually need—not what looks good on paper.
Scholarships alone aren't enough. Mentoring, guidance, and emotional support matter just as much.
Using on-ground learnings to push for better conversations and decisions about education quality.
WHO WE SERVE
Who deserve better learning environments and modern classrooms.
First-generation and marginalised learners aiming for higher education.
Young people with potential who need exposure, mentoring, and guidance.
Families and villages in Goa that want education to translate into real opportunity.
OUR VALUES
Every child deserves respect, not charity.
Support goes where barriers are highest.
Transparent intent, responsible execution.
High standards in learning environments and outcomes.
Change lasts when it is rooted locally.
We back young people to lead, not just participate.
OUR STORY
PACT Foundation was created to give back to Goa in a way that is structured, measurable, and deeply human. It began with a simple belief: if you strengthen schools and back young people through the toughest transition years, you don't just change one life—you change families, futures, and communities.
We started by renovating classrooms. Then we added scholarships. Then mentoring. Then global exposure through partnerships like QS ImpACT. Each program builds on the last, because we've learned that real change requires multiple touch points—not one-off interventions.
Today, PACT works across Goa, partnering with government schools, universities, and changemakers who share our belief that education is the most powerful tool for equity and progress.
This is just the beginning.
LEADERSHIP
Founder & President
Dr. Ashwin Fernandes works at the intersection of higher education strategy and social impact. He is Executive Director at QS Quacquarelli Symonds (UK) for Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, where he partners with governments and universities on improving performance, reputation, and global engagement.
As Founder and President of PACT Foundation, he leads initiatives like the Happy School Project and Goa Super 100 scholarships, focused on expanding educational access and youth opportunity in Goa.
He is the author of India's Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn, launched by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Education, and contributes to national and international conversations on higher education, rankings, innovation, and inclusive growth.
Whether you're a student, educator, partner, or supporter—there's a place for you in this work. Together, we can create a world where education knows no boundaries and where youth thrive.