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Hello — my name is Kevin.
I’m a photographer and graphic designer working with vulnerable communities across East Africa. Recently, I met Emily, a 24-year-old transgender woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo whose life has been defined by extraordinary courage — and unimaginable violence.
I’m launching this fundraiser because Emily is in urgent danger, and she needs support to survive outside Kakuma Refugee Camp, where queer and trans refugees face extreme hostility, hunger, and daily threats to their lives.
Who Emily Is:
Emily grew up in eastern DRC. Her mother supported her identity, but her father and neighbours did not. As Emily embraced who she is, violence escalated quickly. After repeated threats, her grandmother helped her flee to Kenya — hoping she would finally be safe. She wasn't.
What Emily Has Survived:
Since arriving at Kakuma:
- She has been insulted, beaten, and sexually assaulted multiple times.
- She has been arbitrarily arrested, humiliated, and denied medical and legal support.
- Police demanded bribes just to record her statement after attacks.
- Individuals entered her home, beat her severely, and told her she was “pretending to be a woman.”
- She now carries deep wounds across her face and arms — and the psychological trauma of daily harassment.
Why Emily Fled the Camp
Conditions in Kakuma have become unbearable, especially for LGBTQI+ refugees:
- Food ration cuts meant Emily was categorised as “self-reliant” and given no rations at all.
- Hunger pushed many queer refugees to flee the Camp.
- Violence increased, with queer individuals constantly targeted.
- Reporting abuses is dangerous — and often pointless.
After the most recent attack, Emily made an impossible choice:
she fled the Camp alone, on an 18-hour journey through dangerous terrain.
Even the escape was traumatic:
On the road to Nairobi, police stopped the bus at a major roadblock. They became suspicious because her legal ID lists a male name. She was arrested, undressed to “verify sex”, mocked, and detained for hours. She was released late at night, alone, exhausted, still bleeding from her injuries. Emily finally made it to Nairobi — but with nowhere to stay, no income, no safety net, and no access to basic care.
Where Emily is now:
Emily is currently living in a small rented room on the outskirts of Nairobi. She is vulnerable, traumatised, and has no stable food, no work, no financial support, and no long-term safety plan.
In her words:
“If I don’t find another opportunity, I might be forced into sex work. Sometimes I wish I were dead.”
We cannot let it reach that point.
How Your Donation Will Help Emily Directly:
We are raising £1,500 to cover:
- Safe, stable housing: Rent + utilities for at least 3–4 months in a secure area.
- Food + basic essentials: Groceries, hygiene products, clothing — the basics she has gone without.
- Medical + trauma care: Treatment for her injuries, transport to clinics, counselling sessions.
- Legal + documentation support
- Assistance securing safer legal status, documentation changes, and protection.
- Emergency funds: For transport, crisis moments, and any urgent safety needs.
Every donation — small or large — directly supports Emily’s survival. There are no intermediaries. Funds will go to her food, rent, transport, care, and documentation.
Why Your Help Matters
Emily’s story is not abstract. I have met her, photographed her, laughed and cried with her. She is brilliant, warm, funny, hopeful — even after everything. Her resilience is something most of us will never need to summon.
But resilience is not enough when you are alone, traumatised, hungry, and constantly at risk.
She deserves safety.
She deserves dignity.
She deserves a future.
How You Can Help
Donate what you can — even £10 can feed her for several days.
Share this fundraiser on Instagram, WhatsApp, X, or with friends.
Spread the word — awareness saves lives.
Thank you.
Thank you for reading Emily’s story.
Thank you for standing with her.
Your solidarity is literally life-saving.
With gratitude,
Kevin
Organizer
