By Mohamed Ally | Assistant Director
As the year draws to an end, I would like to thank you for your support of the LGBT Voice Tanzania; our organization has counted on your generosity to support our work toward human rights for in the 2014. We are extremely grateful for your support of our programs, and we hope that you will continue show your compassion for LGBT people in Tanzania by making a donation to the LGBT Voice Tanzania.
Through your support we managed to raise $6,020 for the general running costs, which we spent as follows, $3,750 was spent on office rent, for the period of April 2014 - March 2015. We also spent $1,020 on utilities, internet and telephone bills. The remaining $1,230 is our current balance.
A few achievements in 2014
2014 was a very successful regardless of the political environment in the country, we held the first ever and very successful LGBT pride in March which was attended by more than 30 people, with a goal of showing solidarity to our Ugandan LGBT brothers and sisters but also to raise our voice of demanding equality in Tanzania, East Africa and Africa. Unfortunately our message was not delivered to the decision makers because the pride was raided by about 32 armed police officers who forced us to go leave, none of us was arrested or hurt, a few days after the pride our Executive Director was arrested but released on bail.
May was also another month when LGBT Voice Tanzania Titanium team joined the GoodMojo Compassion Relay, with the International Compassion Games to ride in the AIDS/LifeCycle and our team members lead by the Executive Director made a 100 miles ride with the goal of raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and global LGBT issues.
LGBT Voice Tanzania had a unique opportunity in July 2014 of conducting a one day a workshop on homosexuality in Tanzania giving more insight on the history, culture & traditions, religious perspective, legal framework, current movements and the achievements, this workshop was attended by 13 teachers from Columbia University and 7 Tanzanians.
This year we also had several advocacy meetings with policy makers including the top official in the ministry for Justice and constitutional affairs on LGBT rights but specifically discussing on the new proposed anti-LGBT bill. This work has not been easy due to the fact that policy makers are not very much willing to discuss anything regarding homosexuality, but we also face threats and arrests every time we try to meet top policy makers.
Homophobia and Transphobia is at increase, manifesting in violence attack on LGBT individuals and continued arrests of LGBT activists, but we cannot give up the struggle because that is what we are here to do, please continue standing with us in this so that we can be able to end homophobia.
Our plan for the next year is to increase our advocacy campaigns, including sending delegates to parliament and holding advocacy meetings with 15 Ministers and their officers.
I againtake thi oportunity extend my appeal for your continued support, to this great piece of work in Tanzania.
By James Wandera Ouma | Executive Director
By James Wandera Ouma | Executive Director
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
