URGENT! Transgender Refugee Safehouse in Kenya
Refugee Trans Initiative (RTI) was formed by Arise Vanilla in September 2018. Vanilla realized she was transgender from earliest childhood and after suffering persecution at the hands of family and society fled to Kenya to seek asylum in 2015 where she still keeps facing constant ridicule amongst a whole host of other problems shared by other trans people in the process. She was sent to the camp where she was harassed and beaten nearly to the point of death and later relocated to the urban area because of this and yet the situation isn't all that different. Vanilla felt the need to create an organization where trans people can be represented and have a voice and be empowered financially and have some sort of life as other people, and get easy access to health care and a free space where trans people can be who they truly are.
Currently a lot of the trans refugees/asylum seekers here are faced with joblessness and can't find any employment simply because of their nature and character. Many have resorted to sex work as a means to survive hence getting exposed and infected with numerous diseases Many lack skills to equip themselves with and earn a living from doing some form of practical work. We lack access to health care and the most basic necessary sexual services like condoms and lube. A lot of us need counselling for the trauma we've endured but there aren't any measures in place for us to access these services. 
We call upon any body/organization in a position to offer us funding to help us realize the following;
- housing and a safe space where we can gather from time to time and encourage each other as family
- food
- medical coverage
There's currently seven of us in RTI right now but we've got plans to expand and include more trans people that need urgent help. We'd love to join the coalition as soon as possible.
We estimate that we need about $1500 to get off the ground and many of our wellwishers are willing to donate in numbers Please offer some suggestions and recommendations about how you think we should proceed. we have some donors who are looking forward to the fundraiser. An estimated budget of how the funds will be used;
housing/ rent for 4month ksh 60,000 @ ksh 15,000/= ($600USD)
food for 5 months ksh 50,000 @ ksh 10,000/= ($500USD)
transport to health facities/ medical appointments ksh 2500 @ ksh 500/= ($25USD)
beddings, utensils , gas, totilettries @ ksh 12,000 ($120USD)
beds for 6 transgender @ ksh 26,000 @ ksh 4300/= ($260USD)
total sum
Ksh.150,000
USD $1500.00
Please support our efforts with a donation of any amount. Refugee Trans Initiative is running this fundraiser with the support of The Coalition of East Africa (RefCEA). Every dollar received will be put toward the betterment of the lives of transgender refugees in Kenya.
With gratitude,
Refugee Trans Initiative and the Refugee Coalition of East Africa
RTI facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transrefugeeinitiative
RefCEA facebook: http://facebook.com/RefCEA
RefCEA website: http://RefugeeCoalition.com
DISCLOSURE: This crowdfunding campaign is being hosted by Michael B. Clark, member of the Advisory Board of the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, (RefCEA). Funds donated to this campaign will be deposited from GoFundMe into a personal bank account of Mr. Clark, from there the funds will be transferred via mPesa mobile money to Hudson Fredrick, treasurer for the Refugee Coalition of East Africa, and from that point, distributed to the Refugee Trans Initiative (RTI) organization. All funds donated to this campaign will go to RTI, minus the fees taken by GoFundMe and mPesa.
