“Mapenzi Queer Foundation Aid Support.”

I’m Gianni Minuto from Italy, and I’m reaching out to raise awareness about a large family of queer refugees currently living in Nairobi, Kenya. They are facing extreme hardship, struggling with hunger and unsafe living conditions as they seek asylum. To help provide them with essential support, I’ve created a GoFundMe campaign. Any donation, no matter the amount, would make a significant difference in their lives.

Below is a message from the refugees themselves.

From the LGBTIQ+ Refugees in Kenya.

In Uganda, being LGBTQ+ is a crime. When the Anti-Gay Bill was signed into law, it became even more dangerous for us. People were arrested, beaten, and even killed. Many of us had no choice but to run for our lives. We left behind our families, our homes, and everything we knew. Now, we are in Kenya as refugees, hoping for a chance to live in safety.

But life here is not easy. We thought the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) would help us, but they have very little money and cannot provide for all of us. We have no jobs, no income, and no safe housing. Some of us sleep on the streets, while others share tiny rooms that are overcrowded and unsafe. We are struggling to survive every single day.

No Food, No Medical Care, No Basic Needs

We do not have enough food. Many days, we go to sleep hungry. We rely on small donations from kind people, but it is never enough. Some of us get sick, but hospitals require payment before they treat us. Without money, we cannot get medicine or see a doctor. Medical costs come in every single time we need it, and it is something we cannot avoid.

For the lesbian refugees, it is even worse. They need sanitary pads, but they cannot afford them. Many are forced to use dirty rags, which can cause infections. This is not a way for anyone to live.

We also face discrimination in Kenya. Many people here do not accept us, so finding work is impossible. If employers find out we are LGBTQ+, they refuse to hire us. Even landlords refuse to rent us houses.

We Live in Constant Fear

Our struggle does not end there. We are not safe here either. Homophobic people who find out we are LGBTQ+ attack us. We have been beaten, threatened, and harassed. Because of this, we try to keep a low profile, but it is very hard. Every day, we live in fear of being discovered and attacked.

The UNHCR promised to help us seek asylum in safe countries where LGBTQ+ people are accepted. But because of the current situation, everything is slow, and we are left waiting without any support. We don’t know when or if we will be rescued. In the meantime, we are suffering.

The little money UNHCR had to help some of us now is stopped because of Trump policies.

We Need Your Help

We are asking for your kindness and support. We need money to buy food, pay for shelter, and get medical care. We also need help with basic things like soap, clothes, and sanitary pads for women. Every little donation will make a big difference in our lives.

• $50 can help us buy food for a week.

• $200 can help us pay rent for a month for the shelter we are staying in, and it is enough for us.

After budgeting carefully, we set our fundraising goal at €5,000. This amount will help us survive for the time we might have to stay in Kenya while we wait for a chance to be relocated to a safe country.

Please understand the difficult situation we are going through. We are trying our best to stay strong, but we cannot do it alone. Your support means everything to us.

Thank you for reading our story. Thank you for caring. Thank you for standing with us.

Donate now and help save lives.