2019 — Founding of Trans Empowerment Initiative (TEI), Kenya
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.
Visão
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.
Missão
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.
Contacto
Sítio Web
+254 111 393806
Email: transempowermentinitiativeke@gmail.com
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