Support AWAC's Journey to a New Home

My name is Alenna Beroza. I am a medical student in Wisconsin and currently completing a research year before I apply for residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology. For the last 3 years of medical school, I have been fortunate to work with a fantastic, grassroots organization in Kampala, Uganda – the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change, AWAC (read more here: https://awacuganda.org/).

AWAC is a feminist umbrella network of 57 grassroots Female Sex Worker (FSW) led groups, organizations and collectives in Uganda that works to promote the voices and work of FSWs across Uganda, advocate to challenge the multiple facets of criminalization and stigmatization of sex workers, and supports the health, wellbeing, and capacity building among this community. Since her inception in 2015, AWAC has successfully mobilized its grassroot members to challenge stigma, discrimination and criminalization of all forms, championed access to comprehensive quality health services and gender-based violence services, led legislative advocacy campaigns, conducted research and capacity strengthening programs on leadership and grassroot movement building, and reached over 32,000 FSWs with multiple, compounding and intersecting vulnerabilities living in the rural communities, peri-urban areas and urban settings.

In the end of 2023, Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act criminalizing all LGBTQ+ activity and suddenly AWAC’s landlord forced them into eviction due to their connection and support of the LGBTQ+ community. Over the last year, AWAC urgently raised over $150,000, purchased their own land, and began construction of the future home of the AWAC Hub of Holistic Transformation. They are currently in a temporary Drop-In Center space to continue providing services to their clients (which they will be forced to leave yet again) and are looking to raise additional funding over the next 6 months to finish building and safely move into their forever home.

I am looking to help them raise $20,000 in the next 1 month! These funds would allow them to finalize important infrastructure on the ground level which would allow them to safely move storage into this space while they finish construction of the first 2 floors of the building. In addition, this funding would support them through yet an additional transition to temporary spaces prior to the finalization of construction and move into their new Hub of Holistic Transformation!

I urge you to support this goal! Through my work with AWAC, I have been amazed at the compassion and dedication of my colleagues. The clients they serve feel safe and comfortable in their hands and without them, many would have nowhere else to turn. AWAC supports their clients and family in all facets of their lives and truly works to build up those who are often forgotten. I have been amazed by the impact they have on both individuals and their community – from providing mentorship to adolescent girls to providing sign language training to deaf women to engaging in harm reduction for those using drugs. They have changed lives and through their growth, I know they will continue to foster positive change in their community!

Please consider donating and being a part of AWAC's forever future, and feel free to reach out with any questions!