Rainbow Kick-Off – Small-scale support to LGBTQI groups in Asia and Africa

InternationalRFSLPhoto: Kristina Ullgren

RFSL and Regnbågsfonden have launched a new initiative: Rainbow Kick-Off – Small-scale support to LGBTQI groups in Asia and Africa. The aim is to give support to outreach and capacity-strengthening activities.

All over the world there are brave, uncompromising LGBTQI activists who fight against – what is often – a strong and organised resistance; organisations and groups run by a passionate desire that human rights are for everyone, regardless of who you are and who you love.

These groups often work under immense pressure, with great challenges to find funds, establish themselves, reach out to communities, organise and mobilise for change. Lacking capacity and resource makes it difficult to get support and start up and run your own initiatives. Within the movements, trans- and intersex groups are particularly underfunded.

”In spite of these challenges, budding trans and intersex movements are growing and working for human rights, mainly run by volunteers, private individuals and activists. RFSL and Regnbågsfonden want to support them,’’ says Marie Månson, Director of International Programmes at RFSL.

”Through Rainbow Kick-Off more activists, especially in the disadvantaged trans and intersex movement, will be given the opportunity to realise their ideas. We hope to reach a target group that’s otherwise often without funds,” says Jonas Gardell, ambassador for Regnbågsfonden

During Rainbow Kick-Off, organisations, groups and initiatives can seek funding for anything from outreach activities to strengthening their organisations. It can be about breaking isolation and creating opportunities for community and organising. It can also be about Pride festivals, sports events or cultural initiatives to create visibility and reach more people, campaigns and advocacy work aimed at the general public and decision makers or getting funds to strengthen the capacity within the organisation.

The first deadline for applications has passed, and in the beginning of 2019 the first initiatives will be able to start the work.

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