Update September 2025:

Good news! A foreign country has agreed to resettle many of the refugees! 5 have gone through the interviews and medical clearances and are just waiting on the flight information. Unfortunately, UNHCR/IOM have no funds to buy them appropriate clothing or other things for a journey. The refugees even have to pay the new country back for the cost of the plane ticket after they arrive in their new country.

After this group leaves, there are still 200 or so refugees who are hoping for resettlement and are relying on donations for food and medicine for survival, as WFP and others hace had major budget cuts after losing US Government funding.

Update July 2025:

The refugees were told to leave the camp by the government under threat of arrest or violence, so they are now scattered thru the local city. They need now to pay rent and transportation costs as resettlement interviews are held at the camp. UNHCR also has had to cut support to all refugees due to shortfalls (Linked to the US Government's recent actions to cut all foreign assistance).

Update March 2025:

The refugees are still in the east African country and their cases for resettlement are being turned over to other countries. They have interviews on occasion, but no timeline on resettlement. Food is expensive and the location dangerous.

Update Jan 2025:

Due to Trump's recent Executive Order freezing all refugee resettlement, the lgbtqi refugees in an unnamed, but very dangerous location, are no longer able to be resettled in the US.

The east African country is increasingly dangerous and food is getting more expensive, especially at the camp, where the refugees need to stay to avoid violence.

They are hoping to have their cases taken up by other countries like Canada or in Europe. They need money for food, medicine, and household goods to survive until then.

What they get from WFP or UNHCR is insufficient, due to the high prices and terrible exchange rates. The money we have been providing has been essential in allowing their survival.

Please, anything you can share is very useful.

Update March 3, 2024: helping the group in their new location.

They have had to restart from scratch with their settlement and the price of food is higher than in Kenya. Also, the exchange rate fluctuates a lot.

On the plus side, they are not subjected to the same violence from locals or other refugees because they are not open about being lgbtqi and can hide more easily. They need to because the community is even more conservative than that in Kenya, and they are much more likely to be armed.

They are also more hopeful at getting refugee determination statuses which is required for third country resettlement.

We have been providing about $175/ week, which covers 10 people for supplemental food and supplies to what they get from WFP/UNHCR. We also are sending $60/month for sanitary napkins.

Update: the community is planning a big Christmas celebration and they need funds for food, decorations, and transportation. Please help us make the holidays a bit brighter!

Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kakuma, Kenya is home to over 800 LGBTQI people, mostly from Uganda, who fled due to persecution and the stigma of being who they are.

While they are relatively safer in Kenya than in their home countries, they still face bigotry and violence in the camp.

After a very successful PRIDE celebration on June 26th, thanks to 50+ donations, the group has used the remaining funds on solar panels and lights for security (there is no electricity in their area), a bathing area (the public area has been dangerous due to community attacks), and household items.

Please help us celebrate diversity and joy in the world!

They still need support.

Their food rations from WFP are meager and household items from UNHCR don't include menstrual products. They are not legally allowed to work so they are dependent on our support for these items.

All proceeds, minus Go Fund Me fees, will go directly to the LGBTQI community in Kakuma, Kenya. Funds will support the LGBTQI community with food, household goods and sanitary napkins, and other community needs.