COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

Dear Donors,

The graasoot LGBTIQ community in Uganda continues to face persecution and economic hardship, exacerbated by the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. Despite these challenges, grassroots advocates are stepping up to defend human rights, support their peers, and create safe spaces. However, they lack the resources and capacity-building opportunities needed to sustain their efforts. Investing in empowering local advocates is key to strengthening community resilience and ensuring long-term impact.

At Mbarara Rise Foundation, we are committed to equipping grassroots activists with leadership, advocacy, and economic empowerment skills. Our capacity-building programs provide training in human rights awareness, financial literacy, and sustainable income-generation activities such as tailoring and tiling. By empowering local advocates, we enable them to support their communities effectively while reducing economic vulnerability. Many of our trainees have gone on to educate others, provide emergency support, and advocate for the rights of LGBTIQ individuals at the local level.

However, lack of funding remains a major obstacle. Many advocates operate under extreme conditions, facing threats, economic hardship, and limited access to resources. Without financial support for training, safe meeting spaces, and stipends for grassroots leaders, their work becomes unsustainable. Additionally, legal restrictions make it increasingly difficult for organizations like ours to provide uninterrupted mentorship and skills development.

To strengthen community resilience, we need urgent funding to expand capacity-building programs and provide financial support to grassroots advocates. With adequate resources, we can scale up our efforts, train more local leaders, and equip them with the skills and tools needed to sustain change in their communities. We call on donors and partners to invest in grassroots empowerment—because when local advocates thrive, the entire community becomes stronger and more resilient.

Kind regards. 

Dear Valued Donors

Below we share with you an update on our community project

Introduction
The Community Resilience Initiative aims to empower activists in rural youth communities to advocate for equal human rights and equitable healthcare service provision. By training these activists, we seek to build a robust network of advocates equipped with sustainable skills to engage with legislators and influence laws promoting equality.

Current Status
As of now, we are in the preparatory phase of the initiative. While we have outlined a comprehensive training program, we have yet to conduct any training sessions. We recognize the urgency of this work and are eager to begin, but we face funding challenges that have delayed our launch.

Challenges Faced
The lack of financial resources has been a significant barrier to starting our training program. Without adequate funding, we are unable to secure venues, materials, and expert facilitators necessary for effective training. Additionally, the ongoing resistance to discussions about equality and healthcare access complicates our outreach efforts to potential participants.

Need for Continued Support
To ensure the success of the Community Resilience Initiative and to make our vision a reality, we urgently need additional funding. Your support is crucial for covering costs related to training sessions, materials, and logistics. With sufficient resources, we can empower youth activists with the skills they need to advocate for their rights and the rights of their communities. Thank you.