We, members of Gay Kenya, write to you to request for your donation in making our project “A place we can call our Own” a reality.
Many individuals who come out to their family and friends in Kenya are often thrown out of home, schools, estates and even assaulted because the society is generally intolerant of sexual minorities. With nowhere to go, these individuals are sometimes taken in by abusive relatives and the internal and external pressure push some to the streets and some succumb to depression.
Why You Need to Donate NOW!
Gay Kenya has enlisted to the GlobalGiving Challenge (a website that supports small organizations to fundraise online: www.globalgiving.org). The immediate challenge is to raise $4000 from a minimum of 50 donors in 30 days (by 31st December 2011). Once this target is reached, the group will then have a permanent spot on the website and continue fundraising for the current and other projects.
GLOBALGIVING OPEN CHALLENGE BONUS DAY
GlobalGiving has announced the bonus day for the 2011 Open Challenge! Bonus Day will be held on December 7, 2011 starting at 12 am EST (at midnight), so please donate early.
Online donations will be matched at 15% by GlobalGiving. One online donation up to a maximum of $1,000 per unique donor will be matched.
This is exciting news as the bonus day will help raise more funds for our project. Even small donations make a difference!.
A PLACE WE CAN CALL OUR OWN.
The Gay Kenya’s Strategic Plan recognizes the need to create safe spaces for gay people in Kenya. As an organization, "coming out" and embracing our sexuality and identity is very important as individuals and as an organization. We however realize that embracing our sexual identity and leaving the closet comes with huge risks, including rejection and ejection by family, rejection by friends, ejection from schools and shrinkage of friendly social space.
How will this project solve this problem?
The Safe-spaces facility http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/multi-purpose-safe-space-shelter will provide for immediate safety evacuation, an opportunity to engage with career counselors for them to explore beneficial career options and where possible engage with family seeking their reconciliation and reintegration.
The facility will also house an entrepreneurial training center. One of the single important factors mentioned by our members for their increased vulnerability to HIV and violence is their inability to have meaningful and sustainable means of earning a living. Entrepreneurial training will address these vulnerabilities. The facility will also provide a retreat facility - offered on a "camp-site" basis for our members.
This is what the Facility means to some of our members.
David Kuria:
“This would be for me the perfect retirement gift. During my life in gay rights advocacy, I have struggled for a safe-space. In 2008, after much struggle and rejections, we found an office. That helped create confidence among our people. Finally we had a physical space where we could meet, interact and engage with the society. Yet we always live with the fear of ejection. This will be the first time we shall OWN a physical space - a part of Kenya, a place we can call our own. This will give confidence to our people and deflate the claim of those who say we do not exist in Africa. Join with us to make it a reality”Elphas Njeru:
“I often ask gay people why they do not want to come out and join us in our struggle. The answer I get is that “I depend on my family for shelter and education and if I join your organization and my parents find out I get kicked out, what are you going to do for me”. For that reason they are scared to join us. The sad story is of one Tony, who when the parents discovered about his sexual orientation he was given the option of either leaving their family home or being confined to psychiatric treatment and was locked in the house. He endured all that because he could not leave his home. For Tony’s Sake this project should succeed. Join with us to make it a reality.”Jane Wothaya:
“Not only do LGBTI persons struggle with self acceptance, they also struggle for acceptance by family, friends and society. We have persons who have come to us after being ostracized by family and friends. Others have been fired from jobs, expelled from learning institutions and worse, assaulted. But there is only so much we can do at the moment, besides counselling and listening to them. This project will not only offer safe refuge for these men and women, but will also give them some foundation from where to start life afresh, a sense of belonging, self empowerment and life skills. ”Brizan Okollan:
“Personally I have come into contact with a situation where two young men were chased away from school and home. I tried to provide temporary shelter for them in an insecure place and this led me to be charged in a court of law. I strongly support this project as it will provide a conducive safe space to meet the needs of our suffering “coming out” gay men and ladies. Let us join hands to make it a reality.”Festus Peter:
“My house burnt down and my cousin offered me his place to live in. While there, I invited a gay friend over and surprisingly, I learnt that he and my cousin (whom I thought was straight) knew each other and they were actually exes. My sexuality having been revealed, my cousin then demanded that because we were both gay, I had two options; either have sex with him as he pleases, or leave his house. I had nowhere else to go, but a friend from Gay Kenya offered me accommodation at his place. I was lucky I had alternative shelter, but what of other persons who have no friends to take them in?.”David Kariuki:
“While the project may seem to have a huge initial capital outlay, the benefits to be derived from this project considering that it will cut across many generations to come is not comparer able. It will give a sense of belonging for those who are disowned by the society. A chance to have a normal life for those the society has abandoned; A chance to live for the otherwise condemned”.We request for your support. The impact of this project will last a life-time and we request you to join us and be part of it. Please enlist your friends too!
HOW TO DONATE
You can donate with your Visa card via: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/multi-purpose-safe-space-shelter, http://goto.gg/9333 or by bank transfer: For both domestic and international transfers, please indicate in the notes field that this is a donation to Multi-Purpose Safe-Space Shelter (Project #9333)
US Electronic Transfers
To the account of:
The GlobalGiving Foundation
c/o TD Bank
1753 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20009
Contact: David Chalker
Phone: 202-232-4837
Routing number: 054001725
Account number: 3980455921
International Wires
SWIFT Code: NRTHUS33XXX
Address: TD BANKNORTH, N.A. ONE PORTLAND SQUARE, PORTLAND,ME 04112-9540
Routing number: 054001725
Account number: 3980455921
Donate by US Mobile Phone
Text GIVE 9333 to 80088 to donate $10 to Multi-Purpose Safe-Space Shelter. Message and data rates may apply. Only works for US mobile phone
Thank you
Gay Kenya Trust
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