Valentines 2024 (and beyond) campaign to support Kakuma Refugee Camp
Send any amount plus a message or heart for one of the residents of Kakuma Refugee Camp
£5, £10, £20, £50, £100 +
Let’s help them move to a new safe place in the neighbouring country South Sudan, as the refugee camp and residents are having to flee Kenya due to violence and bigotry.
To move a single person to this safer place would cost around $200. Lets try to cover the cost of as many people as possible, and then give them some reserves for food, essentials and other needs that they have. They will need ongoing support, so please don’t limit this to only Valentines day!
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/queer-kakuma
From Kakuma Refugee Camp fundraising page:
My name is Isaac Smith, a proud top gay man living in kakuma refugee camp. Kakuma Refugee Camp has more than 1000 queer assylum seekers and refugees of which 99% of us fled away from uganda and the 1% from congo, Burundi, Rwanda and somalia in fear of persecution, torture and discrimination of all sorts. I pass on this message seeking for support and advocacy creating awareness of what i and my fellow LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees under the umbrella of QUEER INNITIATIVE KAKUMA are currently facing and going through.
Welcome to our fundraising campaign, where we seek your support in making a tangible difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp located in the northwest Turkana region of Kenya, this camp presents a challenging environment characterized by a hostile community, scarcity of water, and extreme climatic conditions. As LGBTQIA+ persons, we face relentless savage attacks, discrimination, violence, persecution, abductions and torture from both host community and fellow refugees due to their hateful and homophobic beliefs. We are reaching out to compassionate individuals like you to help us overcome the immense hardships we endure and restore hope, dignity, and equality in our lives.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE :
- Violence and Discrimination: Living in a hostile environment, we confront daily threats to our safety and well-being solely because of our sexual orientation, identities and expression. Homophobic refugees and host community subject us to physical, emotional, and psychological violence, perpetuating a cycle of discrimination that exacerbates our suffering.
- Unemployment and Economic Disadvantage: Discrimination extends to the job market and refugee centers, severely limiting employment opportunities for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The resulting unemployment further compounds our vulnerability and restricts access to essential resources and services.
- Limited Access to Basic Necessities: The camp’s harsh conditions pose additional challenges as we struggle with insufficient food, clothing, clean water, and vital nutrition. Basic necessities such as cooking essentials, toothpaste, and pads for lesbians are luxuries we often lack, leaving us in a perpetual state of hardship.
- Health and Safety Risks: The semi-arid climate of Kakuma Camp is host to sharp thornes and poisonous creatures, including scorpions, endangering our lives on a daily basis. Access to proper medical care is limited, exposing us to various health risks and making it difficult to address both physical and mental health concerns.
Our call from you our fellow LGBTQIA+ people and well wishers
We are reaching out to you, kind-hearted individuals and organizations who recognize that love knows no boundaries. By contributing to our fundraising efforts, you can help alleviate the suffering of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Kakuma Camp and restore hope in our lives. Your support, no matter how small, will have a meaningful impact on our vulnerable community. Together, we can effect positive change and foster an environment of acceptance, understanding, and equality.
How Your Donation Will Make a Difference:
- Safety and Security: Your donations will enable us to establish safe spaces within the camp, where LGBTQIA+ individuals can find solace, support, and protection from violence and discrimination. We will work towards fostering an environment that values diversity and promotes acceptance.
- Empowerment and Education: By investing in educational programs and vocational training, we can empower LGBTQIA+ individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to secure employment and become self-sufficient. This will enable us to break the cycle of poverty and dependency.
- Access to Basic Necessities: Your generous contributions will help us provide essential resources such as food, clothing, clean water, cooking essentials, toiletries, and other daily necessities that are currently lacking in our lives. Together, we can ensure that no LGBTQIA+ person in Kakuma Camp goes without these vital provisions.
- Healthcare: With your support, we aim to provide accessible healthcare facilities to our fellow LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers who get left outside the line of receiving proper medical care due to the discrimination and persecution that extends up to the all refugee medical centers
Conclusion:
As members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we are forced to endure unimaginable hardships and discrimination in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Your support can make a difference by providing hope, dignity, and equality to LGBTQIA+ individuals who are suffering in silence. We seek for all your support , please share this information as you help us create a voice of awareness.
Further reads:
https://www.freeblock13.com/kenya-lgbt-refugees-report-feeling-unsafe-at-camp
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/african-sexuality-and-legacy-imported-homophobia
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/disa.12447
All videos shared from @isaacsmith903 of Kukuma Refugee Camp with permission.