Help fund our office rent for the year 2025

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We write to extend our heartfelt thanks for your support of LGBT Voice Tanzania and for believing in our mission. Your generous contribution has meant a great deal to our organization. Although we did not reach our overall goal, your support has shown that people like you stand with us in this critical work.

Overview

We launched our Office Rent Fundraising Campaign with the goal of securing $4,800 to cover a full year of rent for a dedicated office space. This office serve as a safe, stable headquarters from which we carry out our programs and serve the LGBTQ+ community in Tanzania. Thanks to donations from you and others, we raised $81 toward this goal. While this amount fell short of what we needed, we are deeply grateful for every dollar raised as it underscores your trust in our work.

Challenge

Securing sufficient funding in our context proved very challenging. As a small grassroots organization in Tanzania, we operate in a difficult environment with limited resources and strong social stigma against LGBTQ+ identities. Fundraising for LGBTQ+ causes can be especially hard, since many potential supporters fear association or are unaware of our needs. At the same time, our community members urgently need a safe space. Without an office, we are forced to meet in temporary or informal locations, which is far from ideal for delivering consistent support and services.

Intended Solution

Our intended solution was to rent a secure office space where our team and community members could gather without fear. With a stable office, we are able to offer essential services such as counseling, health education, peer support groups, and legal aid in a confidential environment. A safe and fixed location would also allow our staff to work more efficiently, store important materials, and plan activities with confidence. In short, an office greatly enhances our ability to carry out our mission and protect the well-being of our community members.

Long-Term Impact

The lack of a stable office has had tangible impacts on our work. We have to postpone or cancel some planned events and counseling sessions because of lack a reliable venue, which understandably affects the trust of those we serve who deserve dependable support. Our ability to advocate publicly for LGBTQ+ rights may also be constrained, since organizing meetings or outreach becomes harder without a fixed base. Moreover, potential partners and funders often look for organizations with formal operations; without an office, some collaborations and support opportunities may be slowed or prevented. We continue to push forward, but our delivery of services is less effective and slower to grow than it could be.

Thank You

We want to thank you once again for your meaningful contribution. Your donation, though modest in size, demonstrates that you believe in our cause and care about our community. Knowing that kind supporters have invested in our work gives us great encouragement.  Every contribution, no matter the amount, fuels our resilience and keeps us motivated to continue despite obstacles.

Moving Forward

Looking ahead, LGBT Voice Tanzania remains fully committed to our mission. We are exploring new fundraising strategies and reaching out to additional supporters. Even as we pursue larger grants and partners, we are immensely grateful for every small donation; each contribution helps us maintain momentum and reminds us that a community of allies stands with us. We plan to continue providing services wherever we can, and we will revisit the goal of securing an office in future campaigns. With perseverance and your continued support, we believe we will eventually establish a stable base; together, we will keep pushing forward for a safer and more inclusive future in Tanzania.

Sincerely,

James W. Ouma