Dear friends –
Mary* had to flee her home in Uganda when her family nearly beat her to death, simply because she's a lesbian.
Now living in a neighboring country*, things have hardly gotten better. There are zero resources for LGBT+ refugees and no one will hire them. Many are forced to make a living in dangerous or illegal ways like sex work and can wait for years in impoverished and homophobic refugee camps for safer resettlement.
But Mary is not a quitter – she has a plan for how to survive and thrive.
She taught herself how to make shoes – beautiful, handwoven sandals. She has a team of friends, other LGBT+ refugees, ready to help. Together, they came up with a smart business plan to make and sell the sandals. They're determined to overcome the challenges and poverty of life as LGBT+ refugees.
Now they just need your help to make their business plan a reality.
My organisation, the Refugee Coalition of East Africa (RefCEA), gathered promising business proposals from LGBT+ refugees like Mary. And together with All Out, we're launching Grassroots Empowerment, where people like you can donate to give these businesses the jumpstart they need.
You can help fund one, two, or ALL of the businesses!
People like Mary are facing poverty and vulnerability simply because homophobes and transphobes forced them to flee their homes. We don't think that's fair. We want to put power and self-reliance back in Mary's hands.
She and our other refugee entrepreneurs have the skills and determination to turn these businesses into something amazing. Something that can change their lives forever.
Starting a business isn't easy for anyone, but with your help, these LGBT+ refugees will stand a real chance at changing their future.
Thanks for going All Out,
Jacob
Executive Director
Refugee Coalition of East Africa (RefCEA)
*We aren’t using her real name or disclosing the current location of anyone, as requested for their own safety
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