Voice Refugee Youth Empowerment  Project

In June 2020 Access For All and Simma Africa Creative Arts Foundation, NGOs based in Uganda were awarded an Empowerment Grant of €25000 from VOICE GLOBAL to implement a 10-month project. They successfully implemented the Project for Refugee LGBTI sex workers living in refugee settlements around wakiso district in Uganda. The project has benefited over 157 queer folk directly and 34 indirectly. Our Project was Implemented in Wakiso District. The beneficiaries are aged between 18 to 35 years.70% identify as female (transfeminine, lesbian, queer, bisexual, female)30% identify as male (transmasculine, gay, intersex, queer) Creative Artists.

Access for All (AFA) is an NGO based in Uganda founded in 2016 working with Urban LGBTI refugee youth in the Central region and in Biyale camp in Eastern Uganda. Access for All focuses on three key issues advocacy, human rights, and youth empowerment.

Simma Africa Creative Arts Foundation(SAF) is a Youth led-Feminist NGO founded in 2016 by a group of Lesbian, Transgender and Intersex folk in Uganda that exists to challenge the social, cultural and political oppressions imposed on LBTIQ Refugee youth and sex workers.

As a consortium we aimed to address the current needs of LGBTIQ+ refugees during the COVID19 pandemic in Uganda. With the grant we received from VOICE we have been able to challenge the social-economic and political environment around Refugee Youth who live in different Refugee settlements in Uganda.The Ugandan government's response to COVID-19 has only deepened pre-existing hierarchies that make LGBTI refugees vulnerable to various injustices. With this grant we have been able to use Language and Vocational Training as tools for empowerment.

Majority of our beneficiaries use English as a third language next to Arabic and their mother tongue so improving their English literacy and developing a culture of reading English and using English in basic conversations with fellow participants. This has created a positive shift in how they connect with the Ugandan community and confidence with which they live in various Refugee host communities.

The skills acquired during the economic empowerment trainings have enabled our beneficiaries to keep active during the COVID19 pandemic with training classes. The mentorships opened the youth up to Entrepreneurship and understanding how to improve their vocational skills level. Learning shoe making, tailoring and jewellery design has bred a new tribe of creatives that are ready to showcase their skills.

Highlights of the Project

English Literacy and Book Club Classes, Economic Empowerment Trainings, Financial Literacy Training, Art Festival and Craft Market

Achievements.

As a consortium we have been able to use Language as a tool for empowerment through English Literacy Classes and improve the practical vocational and entrepreneurial skill set of 157 refugee sexual minorities from 5 refugee host communities in Uganda.

Accomplishments

Formation of 4 book-club groups.

Improved reading culture among Queer refugee youth.

The youth have acquired vocational skills in tailoring, shoe making and jewelry making.

Gained financial management skills.

Had an experience to participate in an Art Festival.

Conclusion

We are looking for funding to provide startups for the beneficiaries of the project who have mastered their craft so that they can use their skills to improve their livelihoods.

The beneficiaries of the project are extremely excited to start a new chapter but are also cognizant of the fact that without startup capital the skills they have gained will go to waste .The way forward is to lobby for more funds to continue the vocational training and find startup capital for the beneficiaries of the project.