A consortium formed at the end of a CAL Conversation seeks to share best practices while increasing organisational solidarity.
Sexual and gender minorities and LGBTI+ organisations will not be left completely in the dark at the closure of the KP REACH programme this. The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), as part of KP REACH, hosted recognised, local organisations in eSwatini who work with LGBTI+ and key populations. The meeting was held at Jozini, between the 28th and the 29th of July 2018. This was a follow-up to a conversation held at the beginning of the KP REACH themed “Co-Creating Conscious Learning Cultures”. A meeting aimed at reflecting, analysing, and documenting the impact of individual and collective advocacy campaigns on access to health. Its purpose is to gauge the capacity of organisations and find ways to help each other by engaging in conversation.
Participants seemed excited about this engagement. There was agreement that this meeting be rendered a safe space for all. Organisations shared healthcare work that they have been doing in their respective spaces. The stories were mostly positive. Experiences about collaborations resulting from the partnership with FHI under the PEPFAR grant were also shared. Organisations still have no proper strategy to work around the lack of psycho-social support. The REAct programme also came into the spotlight, with many noting the huge impact it has had in the community.
They spoke about peer support groups, sensitisations in hospitals and clinics across the country, as well as friendly mobile clinics which bring services closer to the people. Three new organisations had been formed since the last meeting: TransSwati – a trans-focused organisation; LBQRS – a queer women’s network; and Voice of our Voices – a sex-worker representing organisation.
At a point attention turned to the importance of activist self-care and how we should prioritise looking out for ourselves. When we work from a happy place, it is more impactful. We were encouraged to also look out for each other. To be helpful when one of our own is struggling personally, or the organisation.
In an interview with Model C*, a community liaison from TransSwati, she said this was her first CAL Conversation. She felt the meeting was beneficial to a young organisation like theirs: “I will take the lessons learnt from other organisations and try to apply them to my own community work. It was such a pleasure to sit in a space with seasoned activists and literally suck in their experience working with key populations. The contacts made are an opportunity for future collaborations. It is important for our work to be seen to be functioning together.”
She added that she had fun with the dance sessions that were part of the meeting, “They were relaxing and good for the soul.”
Literature that was shared included the CAL report on the KP REACH literature Review: Advocacy and Movement Building for access to health, case studies from House of our Pride (HOOP), and the Namibia Rainbow book amongst others.
The meeting concluded with a discussion about the possible formation of a consortium that works on KP and LGBTI+ rights. This, with the hopes that the movement will grow stronger and encourage cohesion between organisations. It was recommended that this be a safe space for marginalised and unheard voices to raise consciousness amongst participants, and build solidarity, knowledge, and power. A name was suggested, the KP Consortium. Some participants felt it limiting and not inclusive of other parties present. The consortium will be named in the next meeting, held specifically to address its duties and mandate.
Some of the aims of the consortium are to share best practices for working with and supporting LGBTI and KP communities, to enhance discussions of security, community wellness, mental health and wellbeing, and elevate the voices of the community. The consortium also aims for specific resources to be allocated to organisations involved. Allies will be developed and the consortium will share reports on activities undertaken. We plan to publish briefs and notes emerging from the consortium conversations. The consortium aims to form a supportive culture of solidarity and collective implementation, coordination, collaboration and communication.
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