Troy Perry Legacy Grants Logo

Welcome to the first project to be funded through Rainbow Advocacy's newly created Troy Perry Legacy Grants, being awarded to Kampala, Uganda-based Coloured Voices Media Foundation for "Tailoring Our Way to Freedom."

With your support, we've reached the Phase 1 budget goal of $3,000 to kick start this project in the fist Troy Perry Legacy Grant. The team in Kampala are now beginning to produce the first 200+ boxer briefs to be made available for sale locally.

We are now creating an additional $3,000 Troy Perry Legacy Grant for Phase 2 which will cover the creation of several fashion designs inspired by the late Kenyan fashion designer & activist Edwin Chiloba.

Future ongoing funding will come, in part, through the Roar Social Foundation with Rainbow Advocacy's partnership with Roar Social, the new social media platform launching in January 2024.

Roar Fund

PROJECT NOTE:

On January 2, 2024, "Tailoring Our Way to Freedom" Project Creator Steven Kabuye was attacked in an attempted murder. He has undergone surgery and is now improving. Thankfully Steven has survived this second brutal attack as he has continued to be a vocal and visible activist standing up to the rising homophobia and the Anti Homosexuality Act of 2023. Please keep Steven and all of the team in Uganda in your prayers.

Steven Kabuye Hospitalization

"Tailoring Our Way To Freedom" aims to empower and provide sustainable livelihoods for LGBTQIA+ individuals in Uganda who have been adversely affected by the Anti Homosexuality Act 2023.

To address the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, we have initiated a campaign to teach clothing production skills using electric sewing machines, aiming to train and provide job opportunities for over 60 individuals.

With a focus on producing high-quality, affordable clothing, our project seeks to generate income and promote social acceptance within local and international markets. By building a strong sense of unity, professionalism, and confidence, we envision a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals are valued members of society.

Liberation Designs

The goal of this project includes creation of two lines of Liberation Designs clothing:
1. BASICS: Boxer Briefs for the general consumer market in Uganda
2. EDWIN CHILOBA COLLECTION: Fashions inspired by the designs of Edwin Chiloba for sale both domestically and internationally

Our comprehensive plan involves identifying and training participants, purchasing necessary materials, implementing quality control measures, and marketing the products through various channels.

PHASE 1: The estimated budget for phase one of the project amounts to $3,000, covering costs for sewing machines, materials, trainers' fees, and marketing expenses. We plan to raise funds through donations, grants, and revenue generated from the sale of clothing.

PHASE 2: The second phase of the project, with a $3,000 budget, includes expansion of the production of Boxer Briefs and the creation of several fashion designs inspired by fashion designer / activist Edwin Chiloba.

The impact of our project will be measured through the number of participants acquiring tailoring skills, their generated income, customer feedback, and changes in public perception towards LGBTQIA+ individuals.

"Tailoring Our Way To Freedom" represents a crucial step towards not just reducing unemployment, but also fostering mental well-being and solidarity within the LGBTQIA+ community.

We dedicate this project to slain Kenyan Fashion Designer / Model / Activist Edwin Chiloba. View our Edwin Chiloba Experience exhibition of photos and videos of his life.

WATCH: Trbute to Edwin Chiloba with musical artists Julian King and Niccolo Cosme

Steven Kabuye
Thank you!

We are incredibly grateful for your willingness to invest in our mission of empowering this marginalized LGBTQIA+ community. Your consideration and support mean the world to us.

We understand the importance of transparency and open communication in building successful collaborations. Therefore, we warmly invite you to contact us for any additional information or to explore potential partnerships. We are here to provide you with all the necessary details and answer any questions you may have.

Together, through strategic collaboration, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world. Your contributions, whether financial support or strategic partnerships, will make a significant difference in our efforts to amplify diverse narratives and empower underrepresented communities.

Once again, we express our deepest gratitude for your consideration and support. We hope to have the opportunity to work together and make a lasting impact on the lives of those we aim to serve.

Please feel free to reach out to us at [admin@colouredvoices.org] at your convenience. Thank you again for your valuable support.

Warm regards,
Steven Kabuye
Co-Executive Director
Coloured Voices Media Foundation

A project of Coloured Voices Media Foundation, Kampala, Uganda

Coloured Voices is a member of Rainbow Advocacy's OUR PRIDE Video Network, connecting members in 22 countries across Africa, sponsored by WeVideo.

In 2024, you can follow and watch the project's development on Roar Social.

PROJECT DETAILS:

The Anti Homosexuality Act 2023 has left dire consequences on the LGBTQIA+ Ugandans with many jobless and homeless.

WATCH Coloured Voices Co-Founder Steven Kabuye on PBS NewsHour

According to the HRAPF Uganda report from 1st to 31st July 2023, 84 cases were handled across the legal aid network, with 53 0f these containing actions that specifically targeted people for negative treatment on the basis of their sexuality, affecting a total of 67 persons.

Of the 53 cases, 26 were cases of evictions from homes, villages and rented properties affecting 33; 21 were cases of actual/ threatened violence affecting 24 persons; and 6 were cases of arrests affecting 10 persons who are all LGBTQIA+.

Through our emails and phone calls direct we’ve so far received more 86 victims of evictions, job displacements and violence threats. This number is just increasing every day.

● Our vision is for a safe and secure world where humanity and diversity for prosperity takes center.

● Our objectives include:

To inspire a sense of humanity, compassion, leadership and belongingnes among the LGBTQIA+ youth in Uganda.
To enhance mental, emotional and physical health of the less advantaged LGBTIA+ youth in Uganda through tailoring skills.
To inspire the growth of a strong unified movement of LGBTIA+ youth with a high sense of self-esteem, professionalism, confidence, productivity and dignity.

● Our Core Values include:
Transparency, Innovation, Inclusion, Self-love, Compassion, Generosity, Equity, Confidence

Through thorough research and experience, at Coloured Voices, we discovered skills, equipment and productivity is the only solution, not spoon feeding.

Through this project we are aiming to skill more than 30 LGBTQIA+ Ugandans and also create jobs for more than 60 of them. We are going to teach them how to make clothing using electric sewing machines and also sell them, thus hitting two birds with one stone. One is skilled with how to make a garment and then earns through selling it. Thus, creating jobs and also empowering the LGBTQIA+ Ugandans.

How about we tailor our way to freedom?

Objectives
The specific goals and expected outcomes of the project include:

To provide LGBTQIA+ Ugandans with tailoring skills and equipment that can help them generate income and sustain themselves.
To produce high-quality and affordable clothing that can meet the demand of the local and international market.
To create awareness and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ Ugandans as productive and valuable members of society.

Methodology
The steps and activities that will be involved in implementing the project include:

Identifying and recruiting LGBTQIA+ Ugandans who have tailoring skills or are willing to learn them.
Purchasing and distributing electric sewing machines and other materials needed for clothing production.
Providing training and mentoring to the participants on how to use the sewing machines, design patterns, measure sizes, etc.
Establishing a quality control system to ensure that the clothing meets the standards and specifications of the customers.
Marketing and selling the clothing through online platforms, local shops, or partnerships with other organizations.

Budget
The detailed breakdown of the estimated costs and expenses of the project, include:
The cost of buying electric sewing machines and other materials (e.g., fabric, thread, needles, scissors, etc.)
2 Singer 20U Electric Sewing Machines Full Set -2,000,000/=UGX($530) each
Fabric, Pins, Zippers, Chalk, Buttons, Threads, Lastic, needles, scissors –5,000,000/= UGX ($1,400) Totaling to 7,000,000/=UGX($1,940)
The cost of training and mentoring the participants (e.g., trainers’ fees, transportation, etc.)
3 Trainers will cost –1,000,000/=($270) each totaling to 3,000,000/=($810)
The cost of marketing and selling the clothing (e.g., website development, advertising, packaging, shipping, etc.)

Funding
The following will be the sources of funding for the project:
Donations from individuals or groups who support your cause
Grants from foundations or organizations that fund LGBTQIA+ initiatives
Revenue from selling the clothing

Evaluation
This is how we will measure the impact and effectiveness of the cloth producing project:
The number of LGBTQI+ Ugandans who participate in the project and acquire tailoring skills
The amount of income generated by the participants from selling their clothing
The feedback from the customers who buy the clothing
The changes in attitudes and perceptions of LGBTQIA+ Ugandans among the public

Conclusion
The main points of the project why it is important and feasible.
Phase One will cost less than $3,000
Phase One is to benefit more than 30 LGBTQIA+ Ugandans
The project skills and empowers LGBTQIA+ Ugandans instead of spoon feeding them
Project is going to decrease unemployment among the LGBTQIA+ Ugandans
Project is going to help in strengthening the mental health of LGBTQIA+ Ugandans
Project is going to bring togetherness to the LGBTQIA+ Ugandans
Project is going to raise revenue to fund the Organisation projects by Phase Two

In conclusion, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the potential donors and partners of Coloured Voices Media Foundation for considering our organization as a recipient of your support and collaboration.

Join our Tailoring to Freedom Team!

TAILORING to FREEDOM

Team Members