{"id":961,"date":"2022-08-31T07:14:16","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T07:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startersites.io\/elementor\/charity\/?page_id=961"},"modified":"2026-03-28T11:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T11:38:01","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"Kuhusu Sisi"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"961\" class=\"elementor elementor-961\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55b7a04 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"55b7a04\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dddb815 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dddb815\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">We Work Together<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ed0627 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ed0627\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Equal Voices Siaya (EV)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a queer, youth-led feminist community organization dedicated to <\/span><b>shifting harmful community narratives and advancing the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth in rural Kenya through storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We were founded in <\/span><b>2022<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by queer\u00a0 community members who understood firsthand the realities of living outside major cities; limited safe spaces, social stigma, economic exclusion, and isolation. Many queer individuals in rural communities continue to navigate discrimination while lacking access to supportive networks and resources.<\/span><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equal Voices was created to change this reality.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We work to ensure that queer people in rural areas are <\/span><b>seen, heard, and supported<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Through community organizing, storytelling, advocacy, and economic empowerment initiatives, we help build communities where sexual and gender minorities can live authentically and with dignity.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our work is grounded in <\/span><b>feminist values, intersectionality, and community leadership<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We center lived experiences, collective healing, and community-driven solutions to challenge inequality and build a more inclusive society.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Katika Equal Voices, tunaamini kwamba watu wanapopewa nafasi ya kuzungumza, kuandaa, na kuongoza, <\/span><b>Sauti zao zinakuwa nguvu kubwa ya mabadiliko <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My Voices, Our Equal Future.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c54127 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c54127\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06ebe98 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"06ebe98\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b07a630 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"b07a630\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Community Gatherings<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"15\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">+<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777156b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"777156b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e66fbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"9e66fbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Ushirikiano<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"8\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">+<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f58c0f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0f58c0f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bb2b4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"8bb2b4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">People Reached<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"150\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">+<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6247e19 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6247e19\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f92ecc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-counter\" data-id=\"f92ecc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"counter.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-title\">Major Participation<\/div>\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-counter-number-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-prefix\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number\" data-duration=\"2000\" data-to-value=\"5\" data-from-value=\"0\" data-delimiter=\",\">0<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-counter-number-suffix\">+<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d59b0cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d59b0cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e55f7a6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e55f7a6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32dfca5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"32dfca5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Equal Voices Siaya<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7dec03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7dec03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Our Vision<br \/><\/strong><br \/>A society where sexual and gender minorities are valued, respected, and able to live openly and authentically with equal access to opportunities, resources, and justice.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Our Mission<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To challenge systemic barriers that limit equality and empowerment for sexual and gender minorities by strengthening community leadership, promoting wellbeing, and advancing social and economic justice.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Our Goal<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To build strong, resilient communities where sexual and gender minorities in rural areas can live healthy, empowered, and fulfilling lives.<\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"825\" data-end=\"1034\"><br \/><br \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6093a4e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6093a4e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-962ad77 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"962ad77\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b8d2fc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b8d2fc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5af0957 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5af0957\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e1b2fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8e1b2fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Values<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76f7a3c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76f7a3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; line-height: 1.6;\"><li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Haki za kijamii<\/strong><br \/>Tunapinga ukosefu wa usawa wa kimfumo na miundo ya ubaguzi inayozuia uhuru na heshima ya jamii zilizotengwa.<\/li><li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Usawa<\/strong><br \/>Tunatetea upatikanaji wa haki kwa fursa na rasilimali ili kila mtu aweze kuishi na kustawi bila vikwazo.<\/li><li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Fahari<\/strong><br \/>Tunasheherekea utofauti, utambulisho, na tamaduni ndani ya jamii yetu, tukitambua fahari kama chanzo cha nguvu na mwonekano.<\/li><li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Ushirikiano na Umoja<\/strong><br \/>Tunaamini kuwa mabadiliko yenye maana hutokea kupitia ushirikiano na hatua za pamoja na jamii, mashirika, washirika, na watetezi.<\/li><li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Uhusiano wa mifumo ya ukandamizaji<\/strong><br \/>We recognize that people experience overlapping forms of discrimination based on gender, sexuality, class, geography, and other social identities.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de7d0aa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de7d0aa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-063b8c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"063b8c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777f0d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"777f0d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ab6e88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ab6e88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Equal Voices began as a response to a simple but powerful realization: many queer people living in rural communities feel invisible and unsupported.<\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">While urban areas often have LGBTQ+ networks and resources, rural queer individuals frequently experience isolation and exclusion from both community and economic opportunities.<\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Our founders recognized the need to create spaces where people could connect, share their experiences, and support one another. What started as small conversations and gatherings has grown into a community organization working to strengthen visibility, leadership, and economic opportunities for sexual and gender minorities.<\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Today, Equal Voices continues to grow as a platform where queer individuals can organize, heal, and collectively build a more inclusive future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16c4732 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"16c4732\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2705e18 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2705e18\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc378d7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dc378d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed32eb7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ed32eb7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ccc822 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ccc822\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"font-size: 26px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Our Thematic Areas<\/h2><h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; margin-top: 15px;\">Leadership &amp; Community Voice<\/h3><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Representation matters. EV works to strengthen leadership among sexual and gender minority individuals so they can participate in decision-making spaces, influence policies, and advocate for their rights.<\/p><h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; margin-top: 15px;\">Safety &amp; Wellbeing<\/h3><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Equal Voices creates safe spaces where community members can connect, share experiences, and access support. Through Our Mental Wellness Hub, dialogue spaces, and community support networks, we promote dignity, safety, and belonging.<\/p><h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; margin-top: 15px;\">Sustainable Livelihoods<\/h3><p style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.6;\">Economic empowerment is essential for independence and dignity. However, many queer individuals face barriers to employment and financial stability.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We Work Together Equal Voices Siaya (EV) is a queer, youth-led feminist community organization dedicated to shifting harmful community narratives and advancing the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth in rural Kenya through storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement.\u00a0 We were founded in 2022 by queer\u00a0 community members who understood firsthand the realities of living [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1376,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_eb_attr":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-961","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"aioseo_notices":[],"campaignId":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=961"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1554,"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/961\/revisions\/1554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalvoicessiaya.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}