ABOUT US
Empowered Ladies Initiative for Equality (ELITE) is a grassroots LBQ feminist- led organization that was founded and registered in the year 2018. ELITE works in the rural and peri-urban areas of Western Kenya. We are committed to eliminating injustices that LBQ womxn are subjected to that are based on their sexual and gender identities. We advocate for improved access to integrated healthcare services for LBQ womxn, acceptance and inclusion in the society. We strive to improve LBQ womxn’s livelihoods through enhancing their life skills and financial literacy.
MISSION & VISION
Our vision
A safe, stigma–free and a non-discriminatory world
Our mission
To promote access to healthcare, justice and advocate for the rights of LBQ persons including those living with HIV and disability
Our Core Values
Accountability-
We hold each other accountable for our actions, behaviors, performance and decisions
Excellence
– we are committed to doing our work with the highest standards of performance and quality to deliver the best
Equality
We treat one another with fairness and dignity
Sisterhood/Siblinghood
We look out for one another while constantly inspiring each other to our best potential
THEMATIC AREAS
Health
- Mental health counseling
- Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights information
- Provision of preventive commodities such as condoms, dental dams, lubricants
- Referrals for Sexual Reproductive Health services/treatments
SECURITY
We
- Conduct violence prevention where we engage community leaders, police and local media personnel to promote zero tolerance for violence against LBQ womxn. We conduct trainings to equip our beneficiaries with knowledge and skills required to understand, assess, prevent and appropriately respond to violence affecting their lives
- Address violence cases against LBQ womxn by seeking justice to the survivors of violence, provision of mental therapy and ensuring that survivors are safe.
- Document all forms of violence against LBQ womxn to better address specific needs of LBQ womxn in Western Kenya.
Advocacy
- – Advocate for access to integrated healthcare services for LBQ womxn
- – Advocate for security of LBQ womxn. Here we engage police, local community leaders, religious leaders, border
- personnel (immigration officers), local media personnel (reporters and editors)
- – Advocate for inclusion and acceptance in the community and in workplaces
- Economic empowerment
- – Trainings on financial literacy
- – Investment and savings in Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs)
ACTIVITIES
Figure 1Commemorating 16 days of activism to reaffirm the importance of Human Rights in rebuilding a post COVID world we want that is free from all forms of discrimination.
Healing, reconciliation and care are needed to build a movement that, centers forgiveness, calling in and radical community care in the way it manifests. We hosted western Kenya LBQ organizations for a two day healing and strategy setting convening that will see the LBQ organizing in Western Kenya work together, support each other and have a common ground to achieve our different organizational objectives. This is the beginning of a journey that will see us come up with solutions to challenges that the Western Kenya LBQ organizations have faced in the recent past.
Engaging local community leaders in advocating for the rights of intersex persons in Busia County.
Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
Sensitizing Our Beneficiaries on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and demystifying the myths around HIV in LBQ womxn.
COVID 19 PANDEMIC
Distributing food packages and personal sanitation items to LBQ womxn in Western Kenya during COVID-19
OUR PARTNERS
