In recent decades, the number of LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers has risen, with most qualifying as "members of a particular social group" under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines the term ‘refugee,’ outlines their rights and sets out the legal obligations of States to protect them.
*Support efforts to sustain LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections and advocate against harmful bills, including training a bipartisan group representatives on LGBTQ issues, as well as expanding the organization’s base of
LGBTQ leaders to organize and build power in their communities
*To develop long- and short-term strategies for coordination among
LGBTQ movement organizations in response to the wave of anti-LGBTQ policies and public discourse, with an emphasis on pushing back against attacks on trans and gender-nonconforming people.
Provide evening sexual & reproductive services .
Provide safe space for trans community
Outdoor activities to strengthen mental health
“1.…Two of my friends and I are returnees’, and we were planning to go back to Uganda before I heard of this project. However, the awareness raising on refugee empowerment and the training on how to start a tech business has totally changed my mind.
After the training sessions, I immediately decided to start my own tech firm. I even re-started going to college where I had withdrawn before.
“2. The training provided to me is worth tens of thousands of birr…. The entrepreneurship training was the most important. I was able to plan my business. If I got this training a year ago, I would have been one of the most successful investors in Ethiopia. Before the training, I had no clue about financial management.
“3. Networking with other refugees empowered me and strengthened my leadership skills. I have been able to volunteer in 3 different non-profits and I believe I'm now ready to venture into my own web development project
“4. I now work with a global non-profit after participating in these programs. Completely eye openers. In the next couple of years I hope to develop a community lead project and use the skills I learned to empower my people
“5. Being trans in a foreign country that criminalises same sex relationship is extremely difficult. But I have met friends who have made it easy. Weekend getaways provide us with safe spaces where we can open up and just be ourselves
This is a rights-holders project - by refugees, for refugees. We build members' skills through hands-on experience, linking them to available resources that enables them learn and provide solutions to the real world
I joined this program to strengthen my skills in web development after getting basic education in college. These new skills have enabled me to expand my skills to include graphic designs, coding and short video development
Strengthening networks with existing non-profits provides project beneficiaries with expanded opportunities to learn, apply their knowledge and better their chances of getting jobs in the technology world