Founded in Kenya in 2023 by Atwine Emmalia, a transfeminist human rights defender, and other activists (names withheld for security reasons), Action for Trans Refugee Kenya (ATREK) came together in response to the urgent need for safety, support, advocacy and community-led services for transgender refugees, asylum seekers and other gender-diverse people living in Kenya. ATREK is a refugee-led, community-based organisation. ATREK primarily works with transgender and gender-diverse refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people living in Kenya. The organisation particularly supports transgender women and other gender-diverse people who experience homelessness, violence, discrimination, social exclusion, poverty, insecure housing and barriers to healthcare and essential services. The organisation’s work also supports LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers, including people living with HIV, human-rights defenders and other community members facing heightened vulnerability. ATREK aims to ensure that transgender and gender-diverse people are meaningfully included in community responses, advocacy and decision-making.

ATREK works to promote the safety, dignity, health, human rights, inclusion and self-determination of transgender and gender-diverse refugees and other vulnerable LGBTQIA+ people in Kenya. The organisation’s work includes providing or coordinating emergency support, safer-space and shelter assistance, psychosocial support, human-rights advocacy, health information and referrals, community education, capacity building and livelihood empowerment. They also work to raise awareness of the specific challenges faced by transgender refugees and to advocate for more inclusive and responsive services.

At present, the organisation is not formally registered in Kenya. ATREK continues to explore safe and appropriate pathways toward formal registration while carrying out our community work and supporting transgender refugees and other vulnerable LGBTQIA+ people.

Vision

A safe, inclusive and empowered community in which transgender and gender-diverse refugees and other LGBTQIA+ people live with dignity, equality, freedom, security and full access to their human rights and opportunities for sustainable development.

Mission

To build and strengthen a safe, inclusive and resilient community of transgender and gender-diverse refugees through emergency support, protection, advocacy, psychosocial well-being, access to health and human-rights information, skills development and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Goals/Objectives

• Promote the safety, dignity, rights and inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse refugees and asylum seekers.
• Support access to safer shelter, emergency assistance, food and other essential needs for community members facing crisis and homelessness.
• Improve access to transgender-inclusive healthcare, HIV-related services, sexual and reproductive health information and appropriate referrals.
• Provide psychosocial support, peer support and community-based responses to trauma, isolation and social exclusion.
• Strengthen awareness of human rights and advocate against discrimination, violence and exclusion.
• Build the leadership, knowledge, skills and capacity of transgender and gender-diverse refugees.
• Create sustainable livelihood and economic-empowerment opportunities that support independence and resilience.
• Build partnerships and strengthen collaboration with local, regional and international organisations working on refugee rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and social justice.
• Ensure that transgender refugees are meaningfully represented in discussions and decisions that affect their lives.

Focus Areas / Projects

• Safe Shelter and Emergency Protection: ATREK works to support transgender and gender-diverse refugees who are experiencing homelessness, unsafe housing, eviction, violence or displacement. The organisation seeks to provide safer accommodation, emergency shelter support, food, basic necessities and protection assistance. Safe shelter is especially important because many transgender refugees face discrimination and harassment when trying to access housing.
• Transgender Health, HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: ATREK supports access to accurate health information, transgender-inclusive healthcare, HIV prevention and treatment services, sexual and reproductive health information and referrals. The organisation also supports community members who face barriers to accessing medication, healthcare facilities and other essential health services.
• Psychosocial Support and Mental Well-Being: ATREK provides peer support, community connection and psychosocial support to transgender and gender-diverse refugees affected by trauma, violence, forced displacement, isolation, discrimination and insecurity. The organisation promotes healing, resilience, self-care and supportive community networks.
• Human Rights Advocacy and Protection: ATREK documents and raises awareness of the human-rights challenges affecting transgender refugees and advocate for safety, dignity, equality and inclusion. The organisation also participate in networking, learning and advocacy spaces to ensure that transgender and gender-diverse refugees are represented and their experiences are heard.
• Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment: ATREK promotes skills development and income-generating opportunities to strengthen economic independence and resilience. The organisation’s livelihood activities have included creative and artisan-based initiatives, sewing and bag-making, clothing and fashion-related work, and other community-led economic empowerment projects.
• Community Education and Capacity Building: ATREK provides information, training and capacity-building opportunities related to human rights, health, safety, leadership, community organising and self-reliance. The organisation supports transgender and gender-diverse community members to develop skills and participate meaningfully in leadership and advocacy.
• Community Building, Networking and Partnerships: ATREK works with community groups, service providers, human-rights organisations and other partners to strengthen support systems for transgender refugees. The organisation participates in learning and networking opportunities and collaborate on initiatives that promote inclusion, protection and community well-being

Contact

+254758646254
Email: actionfortransrefugeekenya@gmail.com
Instagram

Founded in Nigeria on 13 January 2022 by Mx Rihanna Savage, Nuchi Nweneka, Mathew and Peyton Ageless, Harmony Caregivers Foundation (HCF) is a trans-led feminist organisation in South-West Nigeria working to advance the rights, health, safety, and socioeconomic wellbeing of marginalised communities, particularly transgender, intersex, gender-diverse persons, women, and young people. HCF focuses on policy reforms, advocacy, human rights and sexual and reproductive heath service delivery for trans, intersex and gender diverse people in Nigeria. HCF is a safe haven and a voice for the voiceless, turning vulnerability into strength and isolation into community. The organisation was registered in 2023.

Vision

To have a society where indigent, vulnerable and marginalised persons thrive in a positive and in an inclusive environment with their health, rights and well-being respected and protected.

Mission

To create an enabling environment where all marginalised persons regardless of behaviours can be free of discrimination, stigma, molestation, harassment, rape and gender dysphoria through strong and visible activism, advocacy, sensitisation, awareness campaigns, empowerment, mental, sexual and reproductive heath service delivery, seminars and capacity building workshops, for all to grow and thrive.

Goals/Objectives

• Protect trans individuals from gender-based violence and discrimination.
• Provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) tailored to their unique experiences.
• Empower trans persons through skills training, economic opportunities, and leadership development.
• Amplify trans voices and advocate for legal recognition and human rights.

Focus areas

• Gender-based violence (GBV/SGBV) prevention and response
• Case management, referrals, psychosocial support, survivor-centered services, and advocacy to address violence affecting trans, intersex, and gender-diverse persons.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
• Access to inclusive SRHR information and services, HIV prevention, reproductive health education, and rights-based advocacy through initiatives such as IGE-SRH.
• Mental health and ssychosocial support (MHPSS)
• Trauma-informed counselling, peer support groups, safe spaces, and mental wellbeing interventions for marginalised populations.
• Advocacy, human rights, and policy reform
• Community mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, strategic advocacy, and policy reform efforts to promote equality, dignity, and protection of LGBTQIA+ persons.
• Economic empowerment and livelihoods
• Skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, social enterprise development, and economic inclusion programmes for vulnerable populations.

Trans and intersex-focused projects

Through these programmes, HCF works to reduce violence, improve health outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and promote the full inclusion and dignity of transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse persons in Nigeria:

• A member of the QuestPro Women Foundation Initiative: a Pan African organisation focused on the protection and preservation of human rights of all persons. Harmony Caregivers Foundation has worked with QuestPro women Foundation since 2025 to provide GBV/SGBV, MHPSS, Storytelling and Legal Services for marginalised women in all diversities (Trans, Intersex and Gender-diverse persons included). These communities lacked this services and it has greatly affected the inclusion, development, growth and participation of the community and the general society at large.
• Supports transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse persons affected by GBV/SGBV through case management, legal referrals, MHPSS, emergency support, and community-led advocacy. IGE-SRH Project
• Strengthen access to inclusive SRHR information and services for trans, intersex, and gender-diverse persons while advancing advocacy and policy reforms that address barriers to healthcare and human rights.
• Community safe space and leadership programmes
• Provide mentorship, leadership development, rights awareness, and peer-led support for transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse community members.
• Safety and security for trans, intersex and gender-diverse persons in Nigeria
• Mapping of hotspot or dangerous areas where trans, intersex and gender-diverse persons are commonly kitoed (harrassed, kidnapped, harmed) and how to mitigate this danger and apprehend the culprits.

Contact

Email: Harmonycaregiversfoundation@gmail.com
+2347051690993 / +2348159361075
Instagram
YouTube

The TransHuman Organization was founded in Kenya in 2022 by Nekesa Mukamba. It is a gender non-conforming-led organisation committed to advancing social and economic justice for rural-urban transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons within Eldoret and Uasin Gishu in Kenya. Rooted in lived experience and community power, TransHuman Organization works to dismantle systemic barriers, challenge discrimination, and create pathways to equity through advocacy, education, and direct support. At the heart of their work is a deep commitment to centering the voices and leadership of those most impacted by injustice. The organisation believes that true liberation is only possible when transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons are empowered to lead, shape policy, and access the resources they need to live full, autonomous lives. Through community organising, coalition building, and strategic advocacy, the organisation strives to create lasting change that uplifts our communities and reimagines a more just and inclusive future for all. They have applied for registration and are still awaiting the outcome.

Vision

A just, inclusive, and equitable society where transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons live with dignity, safety, opportunity, and full participation in all aspects of social, economic, and political life.

Mission

To advance the rights, well-being, and empowerment of rural and urban transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons in Eldoret and across Kenya by challenging discrimination, strengthening community leadership, promoting social and economic justice, and providing advocacy, education, and direct support that enables individuals and communities to thrive.

Project values and focus

The project has 3 values and focus:

• Dignity and Human Rights – Every person deserves respect, autonomy, and equal protection under the law.
• Community Leadership – Those most affected by injustice should lead the solutions.
• Equity and Inclusion – Working to remove barriers and create opportunities for all gender-diverse people.
• Social Justice – Challenging systems of discrimination and inequality.
• Solidarity and Collaboration – Lasting change is built through partnerships and collective action.
• Integrity and Accountability – Upholding transparency, trust, and responsible stewardship.
• Empowerment – Strengtheing individual and community capacity to advocate for their rights and well-being.

Project Resource Hub

The Transhuman Project Resource Hub has 4 categories:

• Social and cultural hub
• Medical hub
• Economic and sustainability hub
• Legal and political protection hub

The resources are available in English, Swahili and French.

Contact

Website
+254702168652
Email: transhumanproject2022@gmail.com
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Twitter

Fondée en janvier 2022, Féministes Dynamiques Trans-Actions+, anciennement connu sous le nom de Féministes Dynamiques Trans-Actions LBQ+ (FDTA-LBQ+) avant 2026, est une organisation à but non lucratif au Bénin travaillant principalement avec les filles et femmes lesbiennes, les femmes bisexuelles, les femmes trans, les femmes queer, les travailleuses du sexe, les filles et femmes en situation de vulnérabilité, les hommes trans, et les jeunes minorités de sexe, de genre et d’orientation sexuelle. L’enregistrement de l’organisation est en cours.

L’organisation travaille principalement à promouvoir les droits, la visibilité et le pouvoir des femmes et personnes LBTQ+ à travers :

• la formation et le renforcement de capacités,
• le plaidoyer féministe et communautaire,
• l’accompagnement juridique,
• la recherche-action,
• la création d’espaces sûrs,
• la mobilisation de ressources,
• l’éducation aux droits humains,
• l’accompagnement des femmes analphabètes dans l’informatique et la connaissance de leurs droits,
• le soutien aux femmes en situation d’urgence, notamment pour leur relocalisation, et
• le travail sur l’accès à l’avortement sécurisé au Bénin.

Founded in January 2022, Dynamic Feminists Trans-Actions+, formerly known as Dynamic Feminists Trans-Actions LBQ+ (FDTA-LBQ+) before 2026, is a non-profit organisation in Benin working primarily with lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer (LBQ) women and girls, sex workers, girls and women in vulnerable situations, trans men, and youth from sex, gender and sexual orientation minorities. The registration of the organisation is in progress.

The organisation works to promote the rights, visibility, and empowerment of women and LGBTQ+ people through:

• training and capacity building,
• feminist and community advocacy,
• legal support,
• action research,
• the creation of safe spaces,
• resource mobilisation,
• human rights education,
• support for illiterate women in computer skills and knowledge of their rights,
• support for women in emergency situations, particularly for their relocation, and
• work on access to safe abortion in Benin.

La vision / Vision

Féministes Dynamiques Trans-Actions+ souhaite aspire à une société équitable, inclusive, décoloniale et libératrice où les jeunes, dans toute leur diversité — en particulier les jeunes filles et femmes lesbiennes, bisexuelles, transgenres et queer (LBTQ) — vivent sans peur, jouissent pleinement de leurs droits fondamentaux et participent. Féministes Dynamiques souhaite émerger comme une force motrice du féminisme inclusif au Bénin et en Afrique francophone.

The organisation aspires to a fair, inclusive, decolonial, and liberating society where young people, in all their diversity—especially lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LBTQ) girls and women—live without fear, fully enjoy their fundamental rights, and actively participate in the decision-making processes that affect them. Dynamic Feminists Trans-Actions+ wants to emerge as a driving force for inclusive feminism in Benin and Francophone Africa.

Mission

Leur mission est d’être un creuset national inclusif, féministe et transaffirmatif, qui agit comme un pont entre les communautés marginalisées et les institutions locales, nationales et internationales. L’organisation travaillons à promouvoir les droits, la visibilité et le pouvoir des jeunes minorités de sexe, de genre et d’orientation sexuelle, à renforcer les capacités, à créer des espaces sûrs, à mener des actions de plaidoyer, de formation, de recherche-action et d’accompagnement juridique.

Their mission is to be an inclusive, feminist, and trans-affirmative national hub that acts as a bridge between marginalised communities and local, national, and international institutions. The organisation works to promote the rights, visibility, and empowerment of young people of a minority sex, gender, and sexual orientation; to build capacity; to create safe spaces; and to conduct advocacy, training, action research, and legal support.

Objectif général / General objectives

Former une nouvelle génération de jeunes leaders féministes issu·e·s des minorités de sexe et de genre, capables de porter un changement social et politique profond, transformateur et durable au Bénin et à l’échelle internationale. L’organisation souhaite réaliser un monde où le féminisme reste résolument intersectionnel.

To train a new generation of young feminist leaders from sex and gender minorities, capable of bringing about profound, transformative, and lasting social and political change in Benin and internationally. The organisation wants to bring about a world where feminism remains resolutely intersectional.

Domaines d’intervention / Areas of work

• Féminisme intersectionnel
• Droits humains et lutte contre les discriminations
• Santé, bien-être et accès aux services
• Autonomisation et leadership
• Visibilité, éducation et transformation sociale
• Partenariats et bailleurs

• Intersectional feminism
• Human rights and the fight against discrimination
• Health, well-being, and access to services
• Empowerment and leadership
• Visibility, education, and social transformation
• Partnerships and donors

Contacter / Contact

Email: feministslbqactions@gmail.com
01 97 73 68 63 / 01 62 75 35 21 / 01 96 45 08 02
Facebook
Instagram

Regardez notre entretien avec Dame Merveille du 11 septembre 2026 / Watch our interview with Dame Merveille from the 11th of September 2026

Based in Guinea (Guinea-Conakry), Trans-Arc-En-Ciel Guinée was founded on 31 March 2021 by Binette, Mimi, Christine and Rubi. It is a non-governmental, non-profit association of transgender women which campaigns for the recognition and respect of their rights, access to equitable care and economic empowerment of trans women in the Republic of Guinea. Translated from the French, “Arc-En-Ciel” means ‘rainbow’.

Background

Trans-Arc-En-Ciel Guinée was born from the need to fight against the exclusion of transgender people who have a particular lifestyle and whose needs in terms of health, employment and rights differ from those of other key populations. The organisation is led by trans women, based on the strong belief that trans women are best placed to work with:

• issues related to their health and education,
• sharing of experiences linked to stigma and discrimination,
• identification of priorities in terms of capacity building,
• the study of human rights mechanisms to better defend themselves within United Nations organisations,
• and the setting up of projects and creation of income-generating activities for their financial independence in order to provide trans women with alternatives to sex work and the dangers that they face as sex workers.

The organisation is yet to be registered as they are unable to obtain registration from organisations that register NGOs in Guinea due to the severe penalisation of LGBT people and organisations in the country by the State.

Vision

To see the transgender community united, autonomous, and living in a Guinean society where gender identity is fully respected in all aspects of life. To see trans women benefit from STI/HIV/AIDS prevention services, and have access to equitable care for other diseases and healthcare needs.

Mission

To protect trans women from contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted infections by engaging in community mobilisation, developing economic empowerment and capacity building programmes, and by promoting and monitoring the respect of their human rights.

Objectives

The objectives of Trans-Arc-En-Ciel Guinée are, among others, to

• Address the physical and psychological health of transgender people, improve access to equitable healthcare, participate in the fight against -HIV/AIDS, stigma, discrimination, rejection and violence towards them.
• Respect human rights, particularly those concerning transgender people.
• Contribute to improving the quality of life of transgender people towards economic empowerment through income-generating activities.
• Provide capacity building to members of the association in terms of knowledge and skills at different levels in order to support the actions and objectives to be achieved.
• Social reintegration and social protection of transgender people.
• Support the review of laws that include discriminatory measures against key populations, particularly transgender people.

Contact

Email: transarcencielguinee224@gmail.com
Facebook

Published in February 2021 by Jacana Media, Robert Hamblin’s “Robert: A Queer & Crooked Memoir for the not so Straight & Narrow” became the fourth South African trans memoir after “Always Anastacia: A Transgender Live in South Africa” by Anastacia Tomson, Landa Mabenga’s “Becoming Him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph”, followed by Elise Bishop’s “Twee Lewens” and Tshiamo Modisane’s “I Am Tshiamo: My Transition to Self-Acceptance and Womanhood”.

The book

“traverses a childhood peppered with a cast of unique and marginalised characters. At the centre is Billy, his flamboyantly queer conman father and the mysterious, seductive Alexis. Robert’s childhood self is twisted in a confusing gender identity crisis. Being a girl does just not sit well for him. Alexis seduces his teenage self in an attempt to teach him how to be a woman. As he grows more obsessed, he loses her to the underbelly of Joburg’s strip clubs. Although Robert transitions from female to male, this is not a predictable trans-story of someone trapped in the wrong body. Rather, a tale of a human who refuses to live in a box and who questions the straight trajectory. Through excavating his past, Robert confronts and begins healing from racism and the confines of gender.” (Source: https://www.roberthamblin.net/robert-a-queer-crooked-memoir)

Watch our interview with Robert, 3 April 2026

In the media

• Podcast interview
• Daily Maverick article
• MambaOnline article

About Robert Hamblin:

Robert A. Hamblin is an artist, published author, afab-feminist and parent. His art flounces around gender and bodily things. He seeks a reconnection with nature for queer people. His fine art work is concerned with masculinity, power, whiteness and the performance of these constructs. Hamblin’s conceptually driven, painterly photographic works have been exhibited locally and internationally. He has received critical acclaim for his compelling works that contribute to debates around body politics in a post-apartheid era. South African Supreme Court Justice Edwin Cameron described Robert’s memoir as “A remarkable feat that challenges people to examine not just their own sexuality and identity but their very humanity.” Robert was a founding board member of Gender Dynamix, and later years the Advocacy Manager.

Founded in Nigeria in 2021 by Mx Cookie and Anthony Adole, Living Free Initiative for Health Development and Rights Awareness (Living Free Initiative) is a feminist, trans-led organisation that provides services for trans, intersex and non-binary people in the form of advocacy, legal awareness and digital campaigns. The organisation was registered in 2021.

Vision

A just and inclusive society where trans, queer, and gender-diverse people live freely, with full bodily autonomy, dignity, and equal access to rights, resources, and opportunities free from violence, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

Mission

To advance gender justice and human rights through feminist, trans-led, and community-driven approaches that provide protection, amplify voices, and build the leadership of marginalised communities. Living Free Initiative works to dismantle oppressive systems by strengthening access to justice, health, and safe spaces for trans and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Goals

• Advance Gender Justice and Bodily Autonomy — Promote the rights of trans and gender-diverse people to make informed decisions about their bodies, health, and identities.
• Strengthen Community Protection Systems — Improve access to legal, psychosocial, and safety support for individuals facing violence and discrimination.
• Build Feminist Leadership and Collective Power — Support trans and queer individuals to lead advocacy, storytelling, and community initiatives.
• Shift Harmful Norms and Narratives — Challenge patriarchy, stigma, and anti-gender movements through advocacy and public engagement.

Objectives

• Increase access to paralegal and psychosocial support services for trans and LGBTQ+ individuals facing rights violations.
• Deliver capacity-building programmes on GBV, SRHR, and safety strategies using feminist and rights-based approaches.
• Create and sustain safe spaces and learning hubs that centre healing, leadership, and peer support.
• Strengthen community-led advocacy to influence policies and improve protection mechanisms.
• Build partnerships with human rights institutions and service providers to expand inclusive support systems.
• Document and amplify lived experiences and stories ethically to influence change and visibility.

Contact

Email: livingfreeforever24@gmail.com
+2348169829169
Instagram

Founded in November 2020 as a collective of online communities and an organisation by Tom Kólá, Trans Nigerian Support (TNS) is a trans and Intersex youth-led feminist organisation advocating for the advancement of access to basic human rights for LGBT+ people, currently centring the transition needs of trans people. It was conceived in 2020 through the creation of 2 voluntary membership groups — Share Circle and Super Trans Bros — which focused on community building, education, building awareness and social transition resource distribution. It began formal organising in 2022, first with the collaborative creation of a website for a wider community reach and has since expanded its services and reach.

Trans Nigerian Support is a platform where trans (non-binary and binary) people in Nigeria can come to find information, support, resources, and a community of supportive people who are like them, and share similar experiences. TNS hopes to eradicate the myth that trans people do not exist in Nigeria, and create a safe space where trans people can come to find a reflection of themselves, and their experiences. TNS has not been registered as it is illegal to register LGBTQIA+ organisations in Nigeria.

Vision

TNS envisions a life of dignity, ease and access to gender-affirming resources and healthcare for trans (non-binary and binary) Nigerians.

Mission

TNS’s mission is to improve the lives and lived experiences of trans (non-binary and binary) Nigerians by providing reliable information, support, services, and gender-affirming resources that society often denies trans people access to.

Goals

• Resource distribution, specifically for gender-affirming products of all kinds that aid social transition. e.g. binders, gaffs, prosthetics, etc.
• Building an online repository of information & educational resources via our website and social media.
• Safely making gender-affirming hormone therapy available and bridging the gaps in non-existent trans healthcare by developing a safe telehealth system for people to get what they need. This is done in collaboration with supportive healthcare workers who are trans allies.
• Providing extensive gender-affirming hormone therapy workshops and resources to participants.
• Working to further trans empowerment via employment in leadership and volunteer roles.

More about the reasons for founding TNS, from founder, Tom Kólá

“When I first came out to myself and a few close people as a Trans Man in 2018, almost everything I needed to feel safe and affirm myself in my gender was either non-existent or inaccessible to a young person like me. There was nowhere to get a “respectable”, good quality binder in the country and I absolutely had no hope of starting my medical transition if/when I wanted to. Thankfully, through community building I was able to surround myself with people on a similar mission and we have since been working together to make these life-changing, life-saving gender-affirming materials available and accessible. The dream is to create a Nigeria where this lack of life-affirming, gender-affirming resources is a thing of the past. Then we want to expand this to West Africa, Africa and the rest of the globe. We want to live in a world where no Transgender youth has to go through what we went through. This is the dream.

Currently, TNS is embarking on pioneering a system of consistent access to Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy for Transmasculine and Transfeminine Transgender individuals of all genders. This is a service that’s currently non-existent and it puts a major percentage of the population at a disadvantage of safely and consistently accessing their medical transition needs. We have created a system that caters specifically to the healthcare needs of Transgender [non-binary & binary] people despite the current hostility and discrimination prevalent in the country to foster and encourage safe medication use. It is a system that combats the ills and harms of self-medicating for survival and healthcare avoidance for safety.”

Contact

Website
Email: transnigerians@gmail.com / Thetomkola@gmail.com
Instagram
Twitter (X)

Founded by Fabian Boldtype, the current Executive Director, and Grace Nanteze on 23 January 2020, Prism Uganda, or Prism Empowerment and Development Initiatives (PEDI), is trans women-led NGO that works to bridge the gap in mental health and psycho-social support for transgender women in Uganda. They provide free counselling, therapeutic care, and guidance while advocating for human rights, visibility, and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. The organisation also advocates for trans persons living with HIV/AIDS. The organisation focuses on the Luweero, Nakaseke and Greater Kampala areas of Uganda. Unable to register as a trans/intersex or LGBTIQ+ organisation due to the law in Uganda, PEDI registered as a youth empowerment group that provides mental health services to youth living with HIV.

Vision

A society that actively values and consistently supports trans women on their journey to positive mental health.

Mission

To advocate for mental health through education, sensitisation, research and the provision of both community and individual holistic and quality mental health support services to transgender women.

Goals

• To offer free professional psycho-social support services to trans women and other queer individuals.
• To restore a sense of dignity, integrity, responsibility and self among trans women.
• To motivate and empower the Trans youth to engage in entrepreneurship, innovation or any other form of decent of earning
• To provide a safe haven for challenged, overwhelmed and anxious or estranged trans youth who could be battling rejection, stigma and any other challenges.

Programmes

Read more about PEDI’s programmes on their website.

Contact

Website
Email: prismuganda388@gmail.com 
+256 706971310
Facebook
Instagram

The Initiative of Trans with a Mission-Uganda (ITWAM) was founded by Gafidyn Rae Wesonga and a few other members of the trans community on 20 December 2019 (names withheld for safety reasons). They’re a rural, indigenous, non-hierarchical, transfeminist, youth-led community-based organisation.

Vision

ITWAM envisions a society free from stigmatisation and discrimination of trans and gender-diverse persons; where all trans members are valued and gender diversity is celebrated with self-awareness, intersectionality and evolution of the needs of a diverse and resilient trans community.

Mission

ITWAM’S mission is to strengthen all rights of rural trans and gender-diverse persons including those with disabilities and living with HIV, by representing their diverse needs within human rights strategies in Uganda to meet their needs in the local community.

Objectives

Their main objectives are promoting rural trans and gender-diverse members’ sexual reproductive health rights, human rights, and mental health well-being with bodily integrity and autonomy, and self-determination with esteem. They advocate for access to quality healthcare, socio-economic empowerment and transformation through upskilling and capacity building of rural trans members and policy change advocacy (in other words trans-ifying policies and legal frameworks) to protect trans persons and all their human rights entitlements.

Focus Areas

ITWAM’s primary focus areas include:

1. Policy Change Advocacy: They develop strategies to put trans people at the forefront of benefits, and engage in dialogues with stakeholders, state actors, and government institutions to address trans-related issues. They collaborate with partners like the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), Tranz Network Uganda (TNU), among others.
2. Media Activism: ITWAM mobilises rural trans individuals to participate in various trans-inclusive activities. They express views and concerns about their rights, call out human rights violations, create visibility for trans and gender-diverse persons in rural areas, and engage in discussions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
3. Advocacy for Sexual Reproductive Health Rights: They create awareness about sexually transmitted diseases, sensitise rural trans persons on prevention and treatment, and engage with government health projects without discrimination. They have partnered with organisations like The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Uganda Network of Young Persons Living with HIV (UNYPLHIV), and Mbale Network of Young Persons Living with HIV.

ITWAM works towards advancing equity, equality, and the quality of life for trans and gender-diverse persons, including those with disabilities, HIV, and trans sex workers in Eastern Uganda and Uganda as a whole. The organisation adopts a non-hierarchical leadership approach that encourages functional diversity, making the team flexible and adaptable to changing conditions. They focus on various trans and gender-diverse related issues, such as structural and institutionalised violence, discrimination in employment, access to essential social services, hate crimes, direct violence, federal research surveys, affordable and quality healthcare access, and collecting data on rural trans and gender-diverse people in the region for national organising and programming.

ITWAM is a local civil society member organisation of Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) and an Associate Member of the CIVICUS Alliance, a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide. Additionally, ITWAM is the first transgender women-led and TGNC-focused organisation to join the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), a network predominantly occupied by cisgender heterosexual women. They also have a representative on the Board of Directors of TNU as the Director in charge of the Rural Trans movement in Uganda and are a member of the East Africa Trans Health and Advocacy Network (EATHAN) under TNU.

Contact

Website
Email: twamug@gmail.com
0756 530577
Facebook
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Established 25 November 2019, Intersex Nigeria (Center for Healthcare Development and Youth Empowerment) was founded by Obioma Chukwuike in response to the critical need for dedicated support, advocacy and visibility for intersex persons in Nigeria. According to Obioma,

“The organisation was born out of a recognition of the systemic challenges and societal stigmas faced by the intersex community. We promote and advocate for the sexual reproductive health, self-determination, bodily autonomy and overall human rights of intersex people in Nigeria. Through community building, advocacy, evidence-based research, empowerment, educational and informational resources on intersex-related issues to the public, partners, stakeholders and our community. Intersex Nigeria is a body by and for people with intersex variations. We promote the human rights, self-determination and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Nigeria. We build community, evidence, capacity, education and information resources. Our goals are to help create a society where our bodies are not stigmatized and discriminated against, and where our rights as a people are recognized and respected.”

Vision

A society where intersex persons, from birth, have rights to bodily integrity and autonomy and are free from stigma and discrimination.

Mission

To create an enabling society that promotes the visibility, inclusion, bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health including mental well-being and human rights of intersex persons in Nigeria, through community organising, research, advocacy, and public engagements using a feminist lens.

Objectives

• Advocacy: Lead advocacy efforts and strategies to influence and sustain policies and laws that protect and promote intersex rights.
• Information and education: Utilise digital platforms and printed materials to distribute developed accessible educational resources on intersex issues, to broaden public awareness and understanding of intersex rights and needs.
• Strategic partnerships: Form strategic partnerships with organizations that align with our mission, through movement building, resource mobilisation, and collaborations to support key human rights initiatives.
• Empowerment and support: Establish and maintain a comprehensive support network for intersex persons and their families, through online and in-person forums and activities.
• Stakeholder engagement: Increase recognition and support for intersex rights by securing commitments from key stakeholders across healthcare, legal, policy, human rights and other sectors, ensuring their active participation in initiatives for intersex individuals.

Strategic Priorities

• Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights: Intersex Nigeria develops and implements comprehensive sexuality education programs that provide accurate information about sexual and reproductive health, including topics such as contraception, HIV and STI prevention, consent, gender equality, and reproductive rights.
• Capacity strengthening and building: The organisation outlines a comprehensive road map for systems strengthening aimed at organisational development, introducing trends of best practices and technology to equip both intersex persons and staff with essential life competency skills.
• Human rights and advocacy: Intersex Nigeria conducts thorough research to understand the human rights issues affecting the communities they serve, and documents human rights violations, collect data, and gather testimonies from affected individuals to build evidence for advocacy campaigns.
• Movement building and partnership: The organisation collaborates and networks with other rights-based groups and networks to build a resilient intersex movement, enhancing the visibility of intersex persons over time.
• Peer and family support: The organisation’s peer and family support focuses on the goals of creating support groups within the NGO where individuals facing similar challenges or experiences can come together to share their stories, provide mutual encouragement, and offer practical advice.

Areas of Work

• Raising awareness: Educating the public, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities about intersex variations and the harmful effects of genital manipulation surgeries. Raising awareness about the rights of intersex people and the importance of bodily autonomy and self-determination.
• Training for healthcare professionals: Providing training and education for healthcare professionals on intersex variations, human rights principles, and best practices for supporting intersex patients and families. Advocate for culturally competent and affirming healthcare services for intersex individuals.
• Advocacy for legal protections: Advocate for legal protections against non-consensual medical interventions on intersex individuals, including genital surgeries. Work to ensure that laws and policies uphold the rights of intersex people to make informed decisions about their bodies and healthcare.
• Medical ethics and guidelines: Advocate for the development and implementation of medical ethics guidelines that prohibit non-consensual genital surgeries on intersex infants and children. Promote patient-centered care and informed decision-making in healthcare settings.

Projects

Read about Intersex Nigeria’s production of the play, “World Untold: Echoes of Silence” from our digital archive.

Contact

Website
+2349129057794
Email: info@intersexnigeria.org
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn

Fondée le 28 juin 2019 par Patrick Maliani, Kitumaini ASBL œuvre principalement auprès des personnes transgenres et de genres divers en République démocratique du Congo, œuvrant pour une société plus inclusive, où les personnes transgenres sont reconnues. C’est une organisation transféministe qui travaille avec les communautés trans et non binaires, les jeunes et les adultes trans, les survivantes de violences basées sur le genre (VBG), les militants des droits humains, les travailleurs sociaux et de santé, ainsi que les institutions et acteurs engagés en faveur de l’égalité et des droits humains. L’organisation les droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive (DSSR) sans discrimination

Founded on 28 June 2019 by Patrick Maliani, Kitumaini ASBL primarily serves trans and gender diverse people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, working towards a more inclusive society where trans people are recognised. It is a transfeminist organisation that works with trans and non-binary communities, trans youth and adults, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), human rights activists, health and social workers, and institutions and stakeholders committed to equality and human rights. The organisation also defends reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for trans, gender diverse and non-binary communities free from discrimination.

La Vision / Vision

Nous aspirons à la reconnaissance légale de l’identité de genre et à l’amélioration des conditions de vie des personnes transgenres pour une véritable inclusion en République Démocratique du Congo.

Kitumaini strives for legal recognition of gender identity and improved living conditions for trans people for true inclusion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mission

L’Association a pour mission de promouvoir les droits humains à travers une approche basée sur le respect de la diversité et de l’inclusion, en mettant un accent particulier sur les personnes transgenres afin de renforcer leur leadership dans les différents secteurs de la vie.

The Association’s mission is to promote human rights through an approach based on respect for diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on trans people in order to strengthen their leadership in different sectors of life.

Objectifs / Goals

Elle poursuit notamment les objectifs suivants :

• Accompagner et soutenir les personnes transgenres , en particulier celles n’ayant pas retenu d’une éducation scolaire de base, à travers des programmes d’apprentissage en alphabétisation, art culinaire, pâtisserie, coiffure, couture et autres initiatives visant à les outiller pour une meilleure insertion socio-économique.
• Sensibiliser les personnes transgenres aux droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive , en leur fournissant des informations pertinentes sur leur sexualité afin de garantir un accès équitable aux soins et aux services adaptés.
• Renforcer les compétences entrepreneuriales des personnes transgenres , en mettant en place des stratégies d’autonomisation économique à travers l’épargne, le crédit et le développement d’activités génératrices de revenus pour lutter contre la pauvreté.
• Mobiliser les associations de la société civile, les entreprises et les organisations partageant les mêmes valeurs , afin de favoriser la mise en œuvre de projets communs en faveur des droits et du bien-être des personnes transgenres.
• Lutter contre la transphobie, la stigmatisation, la discrimination et toutes formes de violences basées sur l’orientationbasé sur l’orientation sexuelle, l’identité et l’expression de genre.
• Plaider auprès des décideurs politiques pour une approche inclusive , afin d’intégrer les réalités et les besoins des personnes transgenres dans les différents programmes de développement du pays.
• Encourager la participation des personnes transgenres aux manifestations et forums internationaux , afin de promouvoir l’inclusion, la diversité, l’égalité des genres et les droits humains à l’échelle mondiale.
• Soutenir et consolider un mouvement féministe transgenre , en assurant un suivi et une évaluation continue des nouveaux défis auxquels sont confrontées les personnes marginalisées, tout en développant des stratégies adaptées pour y faire face.

Objectives include:

• Supporting and assisting trans people, particularly those who have not received a basic education, through learning programs in literacy, culinary arts, baking, hairdressing, sewing, and other initiatives aimed at equipping them for better socioeconomic integration.
• Raising awareness among trans people about sexual and reproductive health rights by providing them with relevant information about their sexuality in order to ensure equitable access to appropriate care and services.
• Strengthening the entrepreneurial skills of trans people by implementing economic empowerment strategies through savings, credit and the development of income-generating activities to combat poverty.
• Mobilising civil society associations, businesses and organisations sharing the same values, in order to promote the implementation of joint projects in favour of the rights and well-being of trans people.
• Fighting against transphobia, stigma, discrimination and all forms of violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
• Advocating with policy makers for an inclusive approach, in order to integrate the realities and needs of trans people into the country’s various development programmes.
• Encouraging the participation of trans people in international events and forums, in order to promote inclusion, diversity, gender equality and human rights globally.
• Supporting and consolidating a transfeminist movement, ensuring continuous monitoring and evaluation of the new challenges faced by marginalized people, while developing appropriate strategies to address them.

Domaines d’intervention / Focus Areas

• Droits humains et plaidoyer
• Sensibilisation et lutte contre les discriminations et violences basées sur l’identité et l’expression de genre
• Plaidoyer pour la reconnaissance légale de l’identité de genre et l’inclusion des personnes transgenres dans les politiques publiques
• Accompagnement juridique des personnes trans victimes de violations de leurs droits
• Santé et bien-être
• Accès aux soins de santé adaptés et lutte contre les discriminations médicales
• Promotion des droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive (DSSR) sans discrimination
• Soutien psychologique et social aux personnes transgenres confrontées à la marginalisation
• Autonomisation économique et inclusion sociale
• Renforcement des compétences des personnes trans par la formation professionnelle (coiffure, couture, art culinaire, etc.)
• Développement de projets d’entrepreneuriat social et d’activités génératrices de revenus
• Accès aux opportunités économiques et financières pour réduire la précarité et l’exclusion
• Éducation et renforcement des capacités
• Alphabétisation et éducation de base pour les personnes trans n’ayant pas eu accès à l’école
• Formation sur les droits, le leadership et la participation citoyenne des personnes transgenres
• Création d’espaces d’échange et de partage d’expériences pour le renforcement du mouvement trans féministe
• Sécurité et protection des personnes transgenres
• Soutien aux personnes transgenres victimes de violences et d’exclusion sociale
• Hébergement temporaire pour les personnes en situation de grande vulnérabilité
• Sécurisation numérique et protection contre les cyberviolences ciblant la communauté trans

Ces axes d’intervention permettent à Kitumaini ASBL de répondre aux besoins spécifiques des personnes transgenres en République Démocratique du Congo et de contribuer à une société plus inclusive et égalitaire.

• Human Rights and Advocacy
• Raising awareness and combating discrimination and violence based on gender identity and expression
• Advocating for the legal recognition of gender identity and the inclusion of transgender people in public policies
• Legal support for trans people whose rights are violated
• Access to appropriate healthcare and the fight against medical discrimination
• Promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) without discrimination
• Psychological and social support for trans people facing marginalisation
• Economic empowerment and social inclusion
• Strengthening the skills of trans people through vocational training (hairdressing, sewing, culinary arts, etc.)
• Development of social entrepreneurship projects and income-generating activities
• Access to economic and financial opportunities to reduce poverty and exclusion
• Education and capacity building
• Literacy and basic education for trans people who have not had access to school
• Training on the rights, leadership, and civic participation of trans people
• Creation of spaces for exchange and sharing experiences to strengthen the transfeminist movement
• Safety and protection of trans people
• Support for trans people who are victims of violence and social exclusion
• Temporary housing for people in situations of extreme vulnerability
• Digital security and protection against cyberviolence targeting the trans community

These areas of intervention enable Kitumaini ASBL to meet the specific needs of trans people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and contribute to a more inclusive and egalitarian society.

Contacter / Contact*

Email: kitumainiasbl2019@gmail.com / kitumainica@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

* Malheureusement, le site web et les réseaux sociaux de Kitumaini ne sont plus fonctionnels en raison d’un manque de financement. Au nom de Kitumaini, nous invitons tous les bailleurs de fonds susceptibles de soutenir son action à les contacter aux adresses e-mail ci-dessus.

* Unfortunately Kitumaini’s website and social media pages are no longer functional due to a lack of funding. On behalf of Kitumaini we call on any funders able to aid their work to contact them on the email addresses above.

Le Groupe d’action féministe marocain (GAFM) a été fondé en avril 2019 par Izgar Belrhali. Le GAFM œuvre pour l’élimination des violences liées à l’expression de genre par une approche intersectionnelle et féministe d’autodéfense. Le GAFM vise à promouvoir l’autodéfense féministe comme moyen d’émancipation en partageant des informations, en établissant des contacts, en menant des actions et en échangeant des expériences au Maroc.

Le groupe n’a pas pu s’enregistrer officiellement car l’existence d’organisations LGBTQIA+ est illégale au Maroc.

Groupe d’action féministe Moroc (GAFM), or Feminist Action Group, was founded in April 2019 by Izgar Belrhali. GAFM works to eliminate gender expression-based violence through an intersectional and feminist self-defence method. GAFM aims to promote feminist self-defence as a means of emancipation through sharing information, establishing contact, creating actions and exchanging experiences in Morocco.

The group has been unable to formally register as it is illegal for LGBTQIA+ organisations to exist in Morocco.

La vision / Vision

GAFM aspire à un Maroc où les jeunes femmes et les communautés marginalisées disposent des outils, des connaissances et de la confiance nécessaires pour mener une vie autonome et épanouie. En favorisant la résilience, l’autonomie et la solidarité, GAFM vise à remettre en question et à transformer les barrières systémiques qui perpétuent les inégalités et les discriminations.

GAFM envisions a Morocco where young women and marginalised communities have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to lead independent, empowered lives. By fostering resilience, self-reliance, and solidarity, GAFM aims to challenge and transform the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality and discrimination.

Mission

GAFM se consacre à la promotion et au renforcement des capacités internes des jeunes femmes, des personnes trans et queer au Maroc grâce à des méthodes d’autodéfense féministes et intersectionnelles. Sa mission est d’autonomiser ces groupes par l’éducation, le plaidoyer et la création d’espaces sûrs pour leur développement personnel et collectif.

GAFM is dedicated to promoting and strengthening the internal capacities of young women, trans, and queer communities in Morocco through feminist and intersectional self-defence methods. Their mission is to empower these groups through education, advocacy, and the creation of safe spaces for personal and collective growth.

Objectifs / Goals

• Autonomisation : Autonomiser les jeunes femmes et les communautés marginalisées du Maroc en leur fournissant les outils, les connaissances et les compétences nécessaires pour mener une vie indépendante et épanouissante.
• Éducation et plaidoyer : Sensibiliser le public et défendre les droits des femmes et des personnes LGBTQIA+, en promouvant la connaissance et la compréhension des enjeux liés au genre et à l’orientation sexuelle.
• Sécurité et soutien : Créer des espaces sûrs où chacun peut partager son expérience, recevoir du soutien et élaborer des stratégies pour sa sécurité personnelle et collective.
• Engagement communautaire : Encourager les initiatives communautaires porteuses de changement durable, en mettant l’accent sur l’amélioration des conditions socio-économiques et de la santé mentale des groupes marginalisés.

• Empowerment: To empower young women and marginalised communities in Morocco by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and skills needed to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
• Education and advocacy: To educate the public and advocate for the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, promoting awareness and understanding of issues related to gender and sexual orientation.
• Safety and support: To create safe spaces where individuals can share experiences, receive support, and develop strategies for personal and community safety.
• Community engagement: To foster community-led initiatives that drive sustainable change, focusing on improving socio-economic and mental health outcomes for marginalised groups.

Le contact / Contact

Website
+212 626-012656
Email: autodefensefemaroc@gmail.com
Facebook

Fondée le 20 mars 2019, Fondygender est une organisation communautaire à but non lucratif, non confessionnelle, apolitique et non gouvernementale dans la région des Lagons en Côte d’Ivoire et se concentre sur les droits humains trans, en particulier la lutte contre les IST, le VIH / SIDA, la tuberculose, l’hépatite et le Covid 19.

Founded 20 March 2019, Fondygender is a non-profit, non-denominational, apolitical, non-governmental community organisation in the Lagoons region of Ivory Coast and is focused on trans human rights, specifically fighting against STIs HIV / AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and Covid 19.

La Vision / Vision

Une société diversifiée et inclusive dans laquelle tous les individus ont la possibilité de réaliser leur plein potentiel tout en respectant leurs droits fondamentaux (droit à la santé, droit à l’éducation, droit à la sécurité, etc.)

A diverse and inclusive society in which all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full potential while respecting their fundamental rights (right to health, right to education, right to security, etc.)

Mission

Mettre en synergie et coordonner les activités communautaires afin de contribuer à une meilleure stratégie d’accès aux droits fondamentaux et au respect des libertés des personnes transgenres. Et plus largement, de la communauté des minorités sexuelles et de genre et des mouvements féministes inclusifs.

To synergise and coordinate community activities in order to be part of a better strategy for access to fundamental rights and respect for the freedoms of transgender people. And more broadly the community of sexual and gender minorities and inclusive feminist movements.

Valeurs / Values

• Visibilité
• Inclusion
• Solidarité
• Justice sociale

• Visibility
• Inclusion
• Solidarity
• Social justice

Domaines de travail / Areas of Work

• Promotion de la santé sexuelle et reproductive / VIH-SIDA.
• Diffusion et promotion des droits humains.
• Promotion d’un féminisme inclusif pour l’égalité des sexes, des genres et des chances.
• Promotion de l’autonomisation.
• Développement d’actions culturelles de sensibilisation et de divertissement.

• Promotion of sexual and reproductive health / HIV-AIDS.
• Dissemination and promotion of human rights.
• Promoting inclusive feminism for the equality of all sexes, genders and opportunities.
• Promoting empowerment.
• Developing cultural action for awareness and entertainment.

Contacter / Contact

Site web / Website
+225 0759 927 755 / +225 0708 714 397
Email: contact@fondygender.org

Trans Empowerment Initiative (TEI) is a community-rooted nonprofit organization based in East Africa, founded in 2019 to advance the rights, dignity and well-being of transmasculine and gender non-conforming folks. The group began its work as a small group of trans and gender non-conforming survivors of violence, displacement and systemic exclusion. From mutual aid circles to regional advocacy, TEI has evolved into a transformative force for empowerment, supporting trans men, transmasculine people, and gender non-conforming folks. The group facilitates access to gender-affirming healthcare, emergency housing, leadership development, economic skills training and community-led creative expression.

Registered as both a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) and a nonprofit in Kenya, TEI provides safety, affirmation and empowerment for those who have long been marginalised and facing layered forms of discrimination and precarity. Grounded in a survivor-centered, trauma-informed and intersectional framework, TEI champions gender diversity through a radical feminist and queer liberation lens. The organisation’s programs support health, housing, economic empowerment and human rights advocacy, ensuring that our community’s lived realities shape every decision TEI makes. TEI works to build a world where every transmasculine and gender non-conforming person can heal, lead, create and thrive.

Vision

A just and inclusive East Africa where every transmasculine and gender non-conforming person lives freely, thrives economically and expresses their identities and potential without fear or limitation.

Mission

To build resilient and affirming communities that advance the well-being and economic freedom of transmasculine and gender non-conforming people by creating inclusive spaces for care, creativity and sustainable empowerment.

Core Values

• Intersectionality: TEI recognises how gender identity interacts with refugee status, class, race, ability and other lived realities, shaping the group’s holistic approach.
• Radical feminism and queer liberation: TEI challenges oppressive systems and champion bodily autonomy, justice and the liberation of all gender non-conforming people.
• Safety and protection: TEI creates safe physical, emotional and political spaces for transmasculine and gender non-conforming communities.
• Solidarity and mutual support: TEI nurtures collective care ensuring no one faces hardship alone.
• Accountability and transparency: TEI commmits to integrity, openness and trust within its community and partnerships.
• Healing and resilience: The group uplifts pathways to wellness, acknowledging the strength within its communities.

Projects

“A Space for Us”

A cross-cultural photography and storytelling project supported by the British Council. It features portraits and personal narratives of transmasculine individuals from Kenya and the UK, exploring themes of identity, visibility, and belonging. Through exhibitions, guided conversations, and a print publication, the project fosters global dialogue, solidarity, and artistic expression.

Maschart — Advocacy Through Storytelling

Maschart is the visual and narrative advocacy arm of TEI, using photography, film, and storytelling to document the lives, challenges, and resilience of transmasculine individuals in East Africa. The project challenges: stereotypes and invisibility by centring on authentic voices and lived experiences, fostering empathy, understanding, and long-term social change.

Food Drive and Emergency Relief

TEI’s food drive project responds to urgent needs within our community particularly during periods of displacement, crisis, or economic hardship. The group distributes essential food packages and hygiene supplies to trans and gender diverse individuals facing hunger, ensuring no one is left behind.

Mental Health and Wellness Support Groups

At the heart of TEI is the belief that healing is communal. Their mental health and wellness program offers peer led support groups, trauma informed care, and resource sharing sessions designed specifically for transmasculine individuals. These safe spaces foster connection, emotional support, and access to mental health professionals where possible.

Binder Drive

TEI’s Binder Drive initiative provides safe and affirming chest binders to transmasculine individuals across East Africa who cannot afford or access them. Through partnerships with global supporters and safe local distribution points, the group hosted three successful drives focused on dignity, health, and body autonomy. Each edition has reached dozens of individuals with life-affirming support.

Crochet and Knitting Program

This creative livelihood project provides participants with training in crochet and knitting, enabling them to produce marketable handmade items such as scarves, bags, and clothing. The initiative not only supports skill building and economic empowerment but also offers a calming, therapeutic space for expression, connection, and healing through art.

Poultry and Sustainable Farming

TEI’s poultry and farming initiative empowers transmasculine individuals with hands-on agricultural skills to support sustainable living and income generation. By creating small-scale farming systems including poultry rearing, vegetable gardening, and composting, this project strengthens food security while promoting economic independence for marginalised community members.

Contact

Website
+254 111 393806
Email: transempowermentinitiativeke@gmail.com
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

The Feminist Inclusion Leadership Center (FIL-Center), a transfeminist NGO working for black trans, gender diverse and LBQ rights in Uganda, was founded in 2019, with active implementation of the organisation beginning in 2022 and registration in 2023. FIL-Center was founded by Samantha Jordans (Executive Director), Ms Brendah (Human Rights Advocate) and Sheila Makeyline (SRHR Advocate). The organisation began as a direct response to the growing challenges posed by hostile legislation, such as the Anti-Homosexuality Law and the Sexual Offenses Bill, which intensified the vulnerabilities of queer individuals and disadvantaged women.

Vision

FIL-Center envisions a more just and peaceful world where everyone is able to realise their autonomy, dignity and equity/equality.

Mission

A commitment to intersectional grassroots activism, actively engaging with various issues and strategies to promote feminist ideals, foster societal transformation, eradicate discrimination, and secure equal rights for trans and gender diverse groups across all dimensions of social, political, and economic life.

Areas of Work

• Advocacy for gender equity/equality: To promote and protect the rights of LBQ and trans individuals through sustained advocacy efforts, challenging discriminatory laws, and raising awareness about gender issues, building a history in the community which will be used by future advocates.
• Education and empowerment: To increase the accessibility of comprehensive education and vocational training programmes that equip trans and gender diverse individuals with skills and knowledge necessary for personal development and economic independence.
• Healthcare access: To ensure that all individuals, particularly those from marginalised communities, mostly trans communities, have access to inclusive and gender-affirming healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).
• Support and safety: To establish support systems and safety programmes that address the immediate needs of LGBTQ+ individuals facing crises, such as evictions, violence, and discrimination, while promoting mental health and well-being.
• Capacity building: To strengthen the capacities of key populations and queer-led organisations through training, mentorship, and resources, fostering a network of empowered advocates for social justice.
• Collaboration and solidarity: To build partnerships with other organisations, coalitions, and community stakeholders to create a united front for advancing human rights and inclusion for all marginalised groups.

Programmes

• Healthcare access: Facilitating of gender-affirming healthcare services, including hormone therapy, primary information and surgery recommendations, as well as SRHR services.
• Mental health support: Counselling and support spaces to address the unique challenges and stressors of the trans, gender diverse and LBQ community.
• Advocacy and representation: Advocating for the rights and recognition of trans, feminist policies at local and regional (East Africa) levels.
• Emergency funding: Funds to assist communities in crisis situations, including financial support for housing, healthcare and basic needs.
• Educational support: Tuition assistance and adult education programmes focused on vocational skills.
• Community building: Creating safe and inclusive spaces for all women and girls, as well as gender diverse communities to connect, share experiences and build supportive networks.
• Empowerment and leadership development: Leadership training and capacity-building opportunities for women, girls, trans and gender diverse individuals to enhance their skills, confidence and advocacy abilities.

Through workshops and community training programmes, the FIL-Center has advocated for increased access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) among queer individuals. The organisation has collaborated with various health providers, highlighting the need for resilience and the urgent demand for policy change, while also creating safe channels for queer individuals. Its advocacy efforts have also led to successful collaborations with other organisations, amplifying the organisation’s impact and fostering solidarity within the queer community. 

“As we continue to grow, we remain focused on uplifting the voices of those often silenced and ensuring that our work reflects the diverse experiences within our communities. Our story is one of resilience, hope, and the unwavering belief that everyone deserves to live authentically and safely.”

Contact

Website
Email: info@filcenter.org
+256 787059717
Facebook
Twitter (X)
Instagram

Founded on 20 January 2018 by Salma Alaoui, Adam Cherifi and Zeyne Oulmakki, Dynamique Trans (Trans Dynamics) works primarily with trans people in Morocco, including non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex individuals — especially those from underrepresented communities. This includes trans migrants and refugees living in Morocco, who are among the most affected by systemic marginalisation, legal precariousness, and social violence.

Vision

Dynamique Trans envisions a world where all trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex individuals — especially in Morocco and across the Global South — can live in safety, dignity, and freedom. The organisation believes in full bodily autonomy, gender self-determination, and the collective right to thrive beyond systemic oppression, colonial legacies, and gender-based violence. Their vision is rooted in intersectional feminist, anti-imperialist, and anti-capitalist politics. Dynamique Trans is committed to building non-mixed, self-organised spaces led by the most marginalised. They draw strength from our histories of resistance and honour the struggles of those who came before us.

Mission

The organisation’s mission is to affirm the right of every person to define their identity, access care without stigma or discrimination, and participate in building liberatory futures. Dynamique Trans exists to strengthen the self-organised power, safety, and wellbeing of trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex individuals in Morocco. They work to build autonomous, non-mixed spaces by and for those most affected by gender-based oppression and systemic injustice. Through peer-led accompaniment, community care, legal and psychological support, knowledge production, and grassroots advocacy, they aim to resist marginalisation and reclaim collective agency.

Objectives

• To create safe, non-mixed community spaces for trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals to organise, heal, and thrive.
• To provide accessible and stigma-free legal, psychological, and gender-affirming support services tailored to the needs of trans communities in Morocco.
• To reduce health and safety risks for trans people through harm reduction practices and peer-led accompaniment.
• To promote collective wellbeing and mental health within trans and intersex communities through care-centred, trauma-informed approaches.
• To strengthen community knowledge and resistance through popular education, training sessions, and critical knowledge production led by those directly impacted.
• To engage in grassroots advocacy against legal, institutional, and societal transphobia, and to support campaigns for justice, dignity, and systemic change.

Focus Areas

• Gender-affirming healthcare and hormone journey accompaniment, with a focus on harm reduction and peer-led support.
• Providing peer-based support, follow-up, and harm reduction strategies around gender-affirming care and hormone journeys.
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including safe and informed access to trans-inclusive SRH services.
• Legal support and documentation assistance for trans people facing discrimination, administrative barriers, or violence.
• Psychological and mental health support tailored to trans and intersex realities.
• Community care and collective wellbeing, including healing spaces and emotional solidarity.
• Popular education and political training through workshops, community gatherings, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Research and critical knowledge production centering trans and intersex voices from Morocco.
• Grassroots advocacy and campaigning for gender justice, bodily autonomy, and systemic change.

Contact

Website
WhatsApp (no calls; messages only): +212 704 834 000
Email: contact@dynamiquetrans.org 
Facebook
Instagram

Founded in 2018, Refugee Trans Initiative (RTI) is a trans-led community based organisation that aims to create visibility for trans refugees and the local trans community. The organisation was founded by Vanilla (Tcheugoue) Hussein, a trans refugee woman, along with the help of Doreen Andrews and Purity Paige Tumukwasibwe, and other trans refugees who believe in the rights of trans women by creating awareness of the issues faced by trans refugees and ensuring empowerment of trans women through advocacy, safe housing, livelihood development and seminars amongst others.

Challenges faced by trans refugees in Kenya include:

• Trans refugees are faced with discrimination because of their gender
• Trans refugees face gender based violence from their partners and torture most of the times from the transphobic community
• Trans refugees face a lot of depression and low self esteem
• Trans refugees are faced with low income jobs and joblessness because of their gender and end up in the harsh conditions of sex work.

Vision

A free trans refugee community, the freedom to be one’s true self, and an empowered trans community.

Goals

• To ensure trans refugees are self-sufficient and able to run their day-to-day activities without fear of prosecution.
• To fight for trans refugees through activism and advocacy to ensure that they are able to be independent and have the freedom to be their true selves.

Objectives

• To create awareness and advocate for trans refugees’ rights.
• To create a safe space for trans refugees and trans sex workers.
• To empower trans refugees on social and economic growth.
• To carry out health forums on trans refugee health and well-being by distributing condoms and lube and encouraging the use of PrEP/PEP.
• To train trans refugees to obtain a high level of high self esteem and through psycho-social support.

Areas of Work

• Advocacy.
• Empowerment.
• Healthcare.
• Shelter.

Contact

Website
+254 702 371 502
Email: refugeetransinitiavite@gmail.com
Facebook
Instagram

Watch our interview with co-founder, Purity Tumukwasibwe, 9 May 2025

Watch our interview with co-founder, Vanilla Hussein, 7 August 2026

Founded in 2016 by Pinty Dludlu, TransSwati is a non-profit organisation providing services to the trans and gender non-conforming community. Officially registered in May 2018, TransSwati was born due to the lack of trans community representation in programmatic activities in the development sector in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). A young feminist group, TransSwati works towards fighting social stigma faced by the trans and gender non-conforming community.

Vision

To create a future where all transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have equitable access to public services, are free from stigmatisation and feel safe and secure in a Swazi society.

Mission

To improve the livelihood of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Eswatini through intersectional approach to advocacy and programmatic activities that target health, law enforcement, education, economic empowerment, culture, religion and wider social attitudes.

Areas of Work

The organisation is dedicated to supporting transgender people and advocating for their rights. TransSwati believes that everyone deserves to live their life authentically and without fear of discrimination or violence. The organisation is dedicated to providing resources and support to transgender individuals and their families, as well as to educate the public about transgender issues. Specific areas of work include:

• Healthcare: TransSwati provides resources and support for transgender individuals and their families.
• Education: TransSwati provides education and raises awareness about transgender issues in eSwatini.
• Counselling: TransSwati provides support and counselling for people exploring their gender identities.

Contact

Website
Email: transswati10@gmail.com
+268 7653 0039 / +268 7810 9892
Facebook
Instagram

Our interview with Pinty Dludlu

We interviewed Pinty in February 2025: