HELP THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY IN EAST AFRICA

Greetings everyone,

My name is Paul Kanyamu Canary, I am a human rights defender and former resident of Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Last year I relocated to Canada where I am currently studying to become a social worker. I am on track to graduate in October of this year and have been offered a job right out of school. Until then, I have limited resources to continue my advocacy and humanitarian work for my community back in Kenya, Zambia, and Sudan.

At the moment I am supporting 5 LGBTIQ young adults who were chased out of their homes in Uganda by their families. At first they fled to Kenya, where they were repeatedly attacked by other people interned in Kakuma refugee camp for being gay.

I myself have experienced Kakuma’s rampant homophobic violence first hand. In March, 2020 my leg was broken by a mob of people who threw me into a ditch, calling me “an agent of Covid 19” among other things.

The violence that my friends experienced in Kakuma caused them to flee to South Sudan, where they hoped they may be a little safer. They have been here since the start of 2024 and what they have found is more violence, and next to no resources for them to live.

So far I have been able to support them with the meager funds I have. At least now they have a temporary shelter made from tarpaulin. Each month I send them $580 for food, medicine, and other necessities.

With school and my other financial responsibilities, this has been incredibly exhausting to maintain. I am asking for around $3000 to help me with supporting them until I graduate and start my new job.

There is an extra $700 in that figure because one of my friends has a chronic hernia which he needs surgery to fix. These funds will be used to provide them with food, mosquito nets, and medication. In the interest of transparency we promise to maintain records of how all our funds are spent.

(The total amount will show $3000 plus $1440, because this is an update to an existing fundraiser I started last year.)

I apologize that we cannot offer you many pictures, or provide names, that you may get to know more about who you are helping, but the volatility of the situation in South Sudan makes it too dangerous to provide any identifying information.

There is a very real fear of mass shootings in South Sudan, especially ones which target the LGBTIQ community. We will do everything we can to provide you with updates on the situation, and in a way that does not undermine the safety and security of those we are supporting.

Any gift no matter how small will help us tremendously. If you are unable to give, you can still help us by sharing our fundraiser with other people, and by staying up to date with the situation for LGBTIQ people in Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Sudan.

Thank you so much for your time in reading our request!

Best wishes,

Paul Canary Kanyamu☀️