Pema Kenya is set to convene a three-day intensive Leadership and Advocacy Training next week, bringing together emerging LGBTIQ+ advocates from across Mombasa County. The training comes at a critical time as LGBTIQ+ individuals in the region continue to face systemic challenges that limit their participation in civic life and policy-making spaces. These include limited awareness of civic rights, inadequate representation in governance structures, safety concerns, and restricted access to effective advocacy tools.

Recognizing these gaps, Pema Kenya aims to nurture a stronger, more informed, and resilient cohort of community leaders. The upcoming workshop will focus on strengthening leadership capabilities, enhancing communication and advocacy skills, and deepening participants’ understanding of civic and constitutional rights. It will particularly bring together LBQ women, transgender persons, and youth who are increasingly stepping into organizing and advocacy roles within their communities.

Throughout the three days, participants will be taken through sessions on policy engagement, media literacy, digital storytelling, and community mobilization. They will also receive practical guidance on personal safety, digital security, and wellbeing—critical areas for activists operating in challenging environments. By providing these tools, the training aims to empower advocates to influence policies more effectively and champion equality, justice, and inclusion within their communities.

The workshop will be delivered using a highly participatory Human Rights–Based Approach (HRBA), ensuring that principles of equality, participation, non-discrimination, accountability, and empowerment are central to the learning process. Ultimately, the training seeks to enhance meaningful LGBTIQ+ participation in civic and policy processes, contributing to the broader push for protection and realization of human rights in Mombasa County.

This workshop is supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) through the Safe Spaces, Strong Voices: Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Gender Equality for LGBTIQ+ Communities project.

The workshop will be cordinated by:
Nekesa Wandera, Programs Officer