| General Report 2008 | | Print | |
|
Together we can break the Ice
Year End Report
2008
The purpose of this report is to inform all our partners of the main activities and achievements of Icebreakers Uganda in the past year. Our priorities are to empower sexual minorities with moral support and courage, educate gay people in Uganda on risky sexual behaviors, educating gay people in Uganda on their human rights, conduct advocacy for observation of gay human rights thus reduce discrimination and denial in dealing with those affected with HIV/AIDS, research aspects of gay rights, nature of relations, patterns of relationships as they influence and impact on health, network and collaborate with other organizations for comprehensive services, put up information to end bias and ill-will towards gay aspects in society. We are committed to learning and development at all levels throughout the organization. We work very closely with the grass roots by supporting them in different fields as may be necessary. It is clear from the improvements and changes throughout the organization that the returns of our efforts flow through the care and support we give to the LGBTI community in Uganda. 2008 was an exciting but challenging year for Icebreakers Uganda. Reading through the report it highlights some of the excellent work that has taken place. The organization had to meet the expectations of the LGBTI community. The team itself has recognized that within an ever changing environment, there is need to look to the people served and establish care groups otherwise referred to as cells. Highlights of the year include a one week training of trainers which is the first step in establishing strong grassroots networks, establishing offices, a safe space (which is an drop-in environment for everyone to develop their confidence and learn more about their rights), a resource centre and a website which is an exciting development and we are grateful to the Astraea Lesbian foundation and Hivos for agreeing to be part of these life changing landmarks. This will however bring new challenges as the expectations from the community increase. Icebreakers Uganda is rightly very proud of its achievements to date but we acknowledge that, as always there is much more to do.
President and Executive Board Icebreakers Uganda.
Training of trainer’s workshop
In 2008 Icebreakers Uganda trained 15 Icebreakers executive committee members in Basic counselling, core life planning skills, rights based approaches and result oriented management for 5days in a 3 block release system. As a grassroots organization that is basically providing “coming out” Counselling and Guidance, this was important in re-affirming our ability and commitment to serving and developing the LGBTI community better. This is a process we intend to continue given the changing times, priorities and learning needs. The result of this workshop is that we now have reliable persons who can go out and supervise the activities within cells dotted around Kampala which are our entry points in providing care and support to the community.
Grassroots project
During the past twelve months, we have continued to create cells in different parts of Kampala within the LGBTI community and their integration into icebreakers Uganda to keep them at the centre of our activities. Reaching out to others is the back-bone of all our activities at Ice-breakers. Members of the team that was trained continue to be in touch with these cells by attending their meetings to support a consistent approach and share good practice. Current work streams focus on the consistency of our activities and full integration of these cells into these activities.
The cells which are now 10 in total with each containing 10-20 members are now an integral part of Icebreakers Uganda and ongoing discussions are geared at creating competent and confident members who understand their rights, know their responsibilities, are engaging in respectful and responsible income generation and can gather evidence of stigma and discrimination against them.
Counselling, support, Screening for HIV/STDs and care
Icebreakers Uganda now provides counselling services, care and support through the office of the programmes coordinator. We have been able to acquire and distribute more than 400,000= condoms and lubricants (Pre-exposure Preventive Consumables) to our grassroots cells in our quest for better sexual and reproductive health. Through the same office, there has been developed a partnership with MoH for LGBTIQQ Issues to be addressed using existing groups and safe –spaces. Ice-breakers will soon launch a theme day for LGBTIQQ Health-Action in conjunction with Ministry of Health. This will also apply to entire LGBTIQQ-Community. This arrangement is called the “Most-at-Risk Populations’ Initiative” Health action groups.
Website development
With support from Hivos, a website was developed for use by the LGBTIQQ community. This apart from allowing interactions among the LGBTIQQ (more so those who are afraid to come out face to face with others) has information frequently posted on it to promote our advocacy campaigns, let everyone know what is going on in the country as far as the LGBTIQQ issues are concerned, provide sexual and reproductive health, garner for international support on particular issues, etc. We are running email addresses on the website. This website has gone a long way promoting the cause of the LGBTI. The website is at www.icebreakersuganda.org. Office, safe space and resource centre
We have managed with support from Astraea- Lesbian foundation to rent office premises which house a number of departments in Icebreakers Uganda including a counselling room, the president’s office, office administrators’ office, mobilization desk, a boardroom, a resource centre and other board members’ desks. We have fully furnished the office with furniture, desktop computers, a printer, a scanner and other office stationery.
This has helped us be more organized in our activities since every one now knows where to go to when they need to deal with Icebreakers Uganda and any other LGBTI issues.
The resource centre with a lot of literature is a mile stone of unprecedented nature with the LGBTIQQ community flocking it all the time to read or borrow literature which includes movies of great importance in advocacy and health. We even have other non-LGBTIQQ organizations expressing interest in using this resource center.
With our hotline, we now have 24 hour contact with the community in case of any eventualities.
The LGBTIQQ community can walk into this office and express themselves freely without fear of being singled out (it is a safe space).
Media campaign
We have together with an LGBTIQQ minority umbrella organization Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) carried out a media campaign that saw minority health rights argued and presented to the media and stakeholders in the health sector, we have argue for the health and other rights of minorities more so the sexual minorities, we have participated in television and radio sensitization campaigns the most recent of which is the Agenda Uganda program on NTV. Networks
Icebreakers Uganda is in constant contact with international organizations in the fight for equal and fair rights. We have partnered with organizations like ILGALAW in spreading a better understanding of the rights of minority groups as given by different UN mandates including the Yogyakarta principles ( a member of our executive committee will be presenting a paper on this topic in California in March 2009) , we have also partnered with OXFAM, HIVOS, Global Fund, United Nations, etc
The Ministry of Health Uganda through the Skin/STDs/MARPI,TASO Uganda and the Mildmay centre have also accepted to partner with us in managing the HIV scourge within the LGBTIQQ community in Uganda.
Icebreakers Uganda was at the fore-front in mobilising the LGBTIQQ Community in a recent sero-Behavioural Survey by CDC/USA. This study was done to look into risk factors exposing the community to HIV/STDs.
Our other partners include the gay an Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALK), ISHTAR-Kenya, HOCA-Rwanda, local partners who include Queer youths Uganda, Spectrum Initiatives, Integrity Uganda, FARUG, WONETHA, SMUG, Amnesty International, EAHRDP. etc. MTN marathon
As part of our service to the wider community, Icebreakers Uganda participated in the MTN Kampala marathon. This event was sponsored by MTN Uganda and it raised funds to help resettle the Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda which has been trapped in a civil war for more than two decades.
End of year workshop
On 21st December 2008, Icebreakers Uganda held a one day workshop which doubled as a launch of the resource centre/office, introduction of the icebreakers LGBTI hotline and website at our resource centre in Kampala.
The safe-space was converted into thematic events/peoples’ spaces with the walls redecorated with thematic messages and position papers. Participants were taken around the spaces in a guided tour/exploration descriptive talk.
This workshop was attended by participants/guests from our foreign partners who included the gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALK), ISHTAR-Kenya, HOCA-Rwanda, local partners who included Queer youths Uganda, Spectrum Initiatives, Integrity Uganda, FARUG, etc.
Issues discussed included strengthening networks, improving individual and organizational security, establishing needs for capacity building, reviewing existing plans and objectives, evaluation, HIV/AIDS prevention and management and general LGBT issues.
ISHTAR and icebreakers Uganda formed closer ties aimed at working together towards better understanding and management of HIV/AIDS issues in the LGBT community both in Uganda and Kenya. ISHTAR being a resource entry point since it is an LGBT organization with a wealth of experience in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
As a result of this workshop, there has been a real increase in the number of people visiting the Icebreakers website and sharing experiences, those using the hotline have also increased and the number of people using the Icebreakers resource center has more than doubled.
Prospects
We are now fundraising for a documentary called “Behind the mirrors” which will be shot among the LGBTI community in Uganda to highlight their plight. You can contribute by visiting "Behind the Mirror" at: IndieGoGo URL:
Theme nights for individual cells: we hope to organize theme nights at our offices (which act as our safe space) for the different cells we have in Kampala. In these nights, members will come together to listen to resource persons in different fields like lawyers, security experts, medical practitioners, business experts, human rights experts, etc who can help in understanding human rights and general aspects of life better but also on shaping behavior and responsibilities as LGBTI. This we hope will equip members not only with an understanding of what ought to be theirs but also with the skills to join advocacy and defend the human rights of others and generally have better lives.
HIV/STDs: In partnership with Skin/STDs/MARPI/MoH, the safe –space will be used for comprehensive HIV/STDs Screening and attendant services among the LGBTIQQ-Community. From September 2008 –January 2009, twenty-two ( 22) sessions have been held in which safe-space was extended to LGBTIQQ Community to access HIV/STDs screening, testing, and attendant HIV Services by Skin/STDs/MARPI. 500-700 MSMs/WSWs/TGs have been reached. Two reports entitled: Appreciative Enquiry into MSM/WSW/TGs in Uganda and Baseline Study into MSM/WSW/TGs have been developed as a result of these sessions by Skin/STDs/MARPI (Source: Skin/STDs/MARPI, Ward 12 Upper Mulago Hill)
Counselling/Guidance: There is need to establish life-planning skills training for members of the LGBTIQQ Community as this will enable them make informed choices, have improved self-esteem and assertiveness. These sessions will be held every Saturday and Sunday of the week at Ice-breakers Safe –space.
Quarterly get together meetings: Every three months, we hope to bring our different cells together for brainstorming sessions, sharing experiences and planning for how our next three months should be run in as far as advocating for social change and human rights protection are concerned.
Advocacy and lobbying: We will continue to advocate for equal human rights for the LGBTI through the different avenues we have been using as well as putting to use our website as an avenue for advocacy. We have an advantage that we are already recognized by many human rights organization as a group gunning for genuine and fair treatment for all and using this, we are mainly looking at effecting change in harsh legislations to the LGBTI.
Media campaigns: We will use both print and electronic media in initiating debates on the rights of the LGBTI as well as trying to make the public understand and appreciate this group (LGBTI). This will simply be a continuation of what we are already doing.
Networking: This is an important aspect of our activities since they are in such a way that without people backing us up, we risk being locked up and frustrated since the authorities would rather not deal with us. This means that we will continue to strengthen networks with our already existing partners as well as finding new partners. That is why as part of this proposal; we request any possible partnerships with organizations that can be helpful to our cause of effecting change more in regards to the powers that be (in terms of lobbying for better legislations).
Workshops: As part of Icebreakers activities, we hold at least two community workshops every year with the third being our general conference at the end of the year. This period will not be any different although the exact topics for the workshops are usually arrived at basing on the prevailing human rights situation in the country at a particular period.
Expansion: we hope to expand our cells beyond Kampala the exact way we started them in Kampala – By continued mobilisation and rolling-out services through networks.
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR/Programs Coordinator, ICE-BREAKERS UGANDA JANUARY 2009
|