LGBTI Refugee Coalition in Kenya
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The Refugee Coalition of East Africa (RefCEA) is a registered community organization for and by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. RefCEA was established to unite the various independent LGBTQI led refugee organizations in East Africa under an umbrella organization in order to facilitate long-term planning, advocacy, and representation, and to provide fiscal management and fundraising support for its members. Additionally, RefCEA oversees research initiatives representing the LGBTQI refugee community and works toward improving conditions for refugees during the resettlement waiting period. Current membership consists of: Community Support Initiative for Refugees (CoSIR), Natures Network, Refugee Trans Initiative (RTI), the Foundation for Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Refugees (FLBQR), Pride Umbrella Kenya (PUK), Lunko Haute Couture, Refugee Flag Kenya (RFK), and Urban Legacy Africa.
Mission:
The Refugee Coalition of East Africa’s mission is to unite the various independent grassroots LGBTQIrefugee organizations in Kenya and East Africa under one umbrella organization, to facilitate long-term planning, advocacy and representation, to provide fiscal management and fundraising support, and to oversee research initiatives representing the LGBTQIrefugee community.
Vision:
We envisage a unified, empowered, and self-reliant LGBTQIrefugee community in Kenya which is protected and supported in all pertinent matters.
Goals:
● Ensure unity among LGBTQIrefugee Community Based Organizations in Kenya
● Advocate for the human rights and the wellbeing of the LGBTQIrefugee communities in Kenya
● Fundraise for the programs that will benefit the community
● Achieve visibility of the LGBTQIrefugee community
Objectives:
● Act as a strategic planner for all the Member Organizations for a unified voice to represent all issues of concern for Member Organizations over the long term
● Advocate for refugee representation in human rights organizations
● Facilitate local community integration through social activities, mentorship, and job training
● Document abuses of human rights; and push for durable vulnerable refugee solutions
● FacilitateLGBTQIrefugee representation in evidence-based initiatives including research and policy-making in vulnerable populations, including refugees, in Kenya
First Year Achievements:
ORGANIZATIONAL: Established the Coalition as a legal and operating entity including having registered the organization with a certificate of operation and opening a bank account. The Coalition has a website and strong social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE: The Coalition mobilized its Member Organizations to quickly respond to several emerging crises. We provided temporary housing and food support four times in the past 6 months and legal support and bail money for LGBTQI refugees who were unjustly imprisoned.
The SPARK Fund: RefCEA raised funds to start up businesses created, launched, and staffed by LGBTQI refugees in Kenya, employing over 20 refugees in three businesses.
PLANNING: We held a strategic planning session on ways to address the challenges faced by the LGBTQI refugee community and to help our members and other organizations find a path toward a more established and sustainable organizational future. The 3 day planning session, held in collaboration with UNHCR, brought together over 25 leaders in the LGBTQI refugee community.
GROWTH: RefCEA expanded the Coalition to include new members and RefCEA is currently in the process of working with other organizations to join us. Additionally, the Coalition recruited and appointed three members to its Advisory Board.
COMMUNICATIONS: RefCEA’s website has expanded, our social media presence has grown, and we have become a regularly reported upon and quoted organization for press outlets around the world. Notable media citations include Reuters, The Washington Blade, Gay City News, and Pink News, Gay Star News, and NBC.
FUNDRAISING: The Coalition has proven to be an effective, trusted fundraiser. In addition to nearly $10,000 crowdfunded in conjunction with All Out for the SPARK Fund, RefCEA raised funds to open 2 safe houses, respond to emergencies, and hold our Annual General Meeting and Strategic Planning sessions, raising over $19,000.
RESEARCH: The Coalition has become an entrypoint for international researchers seeking to better understand this community. As such, RefCEA has connected with the African Centre for Migration and Society at Wits University (Johannesburg, South Africa); New York University College of Global Public Health (New York City, United States); University of Minnesota School of Nursing (Minneapolis, United States); University of Oxford Nuttfield Department of Population Health (Oxford, United Kingdom).
UNIFICATION: RefCEA has successfully facilitated and continues to foster greater unification amongst member organizations, non-member LGBTQI CBO’s, and the community at large.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: On 27 June, the Coalition hosted its AGM, hosting over 250 LGBTQI refugees to discuss security and successes over the past year, elect new officers and present the Strategic Plan. Additionally, the event was able to provide money and take-home food support for every attendee as well as hiring over 25 LGBTQI refugees to cater, perform, and plan the event.
Please support our efforts with a donation of any amount. The Coalition is volunteer-run and every dollar received will be put toward the betterment of the lives of LGBTQI refugees.
With gratitude,
The Refugee Coalition of East Africa
RefCEA facebook: http://facebook.com/RefCEA
RefCEA website: http://RefugeeCoalition.com
This crowdfunding campaign is being hosted by Michael B. Clark, member of the Advisory Board of the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, (RefCEA). Funds donated to this campaign will be deposited from GoFundMe into a personal bank account of Mr. Clark, from there the funds will be transferred via mPesa mobile money to Hudson Fredrick, treasurer for the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, and from that point, into the Kenya-based bank account of the organization. All funds donated to this campaign will go to RefCEA, minus the fees taken by GoFundMe and mPesa.
Mission:
The Refugee Coalition of East Africa’s mission is to unite the various independent grassroots LGBTQIrefugee organizations in Kenya and East Africa under one umbrella organization, to facilitate long-term planning, advocacy and representation, to provide fiscal management and fundraising support, and to oversee research initiatives representing the LGBTQIrefugee community.
Vision:
We envisage a unified, empowered, and self-reliant LGBTQIrefugee community in Kenya which is protected and supported in all pertinent matters.
Goals:
● Ensure unity among LGBTQIrefugee Community Based Organizations in Kenya
● Advocate for the human rights and the wellbeing of the LGBTQIrefugee communities in Kenya
● Fundraise for the programs that will benefit the community
● Achieve visibility of the LGBTQIrefugee community
Objectives:
● Act as a strategic planner for all the Member Organizations for a unified voice to represent all issues of concern for Member Organizations over the long term
● Advocate for refugee representation in human rights organizations
● Facilitate local community integration through social activities, mentorship, and job training
● Document abuses of human rights; and push for durable vulnerable refugee solutions
● FacilitateLGBTQIrefugee representation in evidence-based initiatives including research and policy-making in vulnerable populations, including refugees, in Kenya
First Year Achievements:
ORGANIZATIONAL: Established the Coalition as a legal and operating entity including having registered the organization with a certificate of operation and opening a bank account. The Coalition has a website and strong social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE: The Coalition mobilized its Member Organizations to quickly respond to several emerging crises. We provided temporary housing and food support four times in the past 6 months and legal support and bail money for LGBTQI refugees who were unjustly imprisoned.
The SPARK Fund: RefCEA raised funds to start up businesses created, launched, and staffed by LGBTQI refugees in Kenya, employing over 20 refugees in three businesses.
PLANNING: We held a strategic planning session on ways to address the challenges faced by the LGBTQI refugee community and to help our members and other organizations find a path toward a more established and sustainable organizational future. The 3 day planning session, held in collaboration with UNHCR, brought together over 25 leaders in the LGBTQI refugee community.
GROWTH: RefCEA expanded the Coalition to include new members and RefCEA is currently in the process of working with other organizations to join us. Additionally, the Coalition recruited and appointed three members to its Advisory Board.
COMMUNICATIONS: RefCEA’s website has expanded, our social media presence has grown, and we have become a regularly reported upon and quoted organization for press outlets around the world. Notable media citations include Reuters, The Washington Blade, Gay City News, and Pink News, Gay Star News, and NBC.
FUNDRAISING: The Coalition has proven to be an effective, trusted fundraiser. In addition to nearly $10,000 crowdfunded in conjunction with All Out for the SPARK Fund, RefCEA raised funds to open 2 safe houses, respond to emergencies, and hold our Annual General Meeting and Strategic Planning sessions, raising over $19,000.
RESEARCH: The Coalition has become an entrypoint for international researchers seeking to better understand this community. As such, RefCEA has connected with the African Centre for Migration and Society at Wits University (Johannesburg, South Africa); New York University College of Global Public Health (New York City, United States); University of Minnesota School of Nursing (Minneapolis, United States); University of Oxford Nuttfield Department of Population Health (Oxford, United Kingdom).
UNIFICATION: RefCEA has successfully facilitated and continues to foster greater unification amongst member organizations, non-member LGBTQI CBO’s, and the community at large.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: On 27 June, the Coalition hosted its AGM, hosting over 250 LGBTQI refugees to discuss security and successes over the past year, elect new officers and present the Strategic Plan. Additionally, the event was able to provide money and take-home food support for every attendee as well as hiring over 25 LGBTQI refugees to cater, perform, and plan the event.
Please support our efforts with a donation of any amount. The Coalition is volunteer-run and every dollar received will be put toward the betterment of the lives of LGBTQI refugees.
With gratitude,
The Refugee Coalition of East Africa
RefCEA facebook: http://facebook.com/RefCEA
RefCEA website: http://RefugeeCoalition.com
This crowdfunding campaign is being hosted by Michael B. Clark, member of the Advisory Board of the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, (RefCEA). Funds donated to this campaign will be deposited from GoFundMe into a personal bank account of Mr. Clark, from there the funds will be transferred via mPesa mobile money to Hudson Fredrick, treasurer for the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, and from that point, into the Kenya-based bank account of the organization. All funds donated to this campaign will go to RefCEA, minus the fees taken by GoFundMe and mPesa.
Fundraising team: Refugee Coalition of East Africa (2)
Michael Clark
Organizer
Adam Fitzgerald
Team member