About:

Safe House Africa (SHA) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the United States, dedicated to providing a safe haven for LGBTQ individuals in Africa who face severe marginalization and persecution. SHA will facilitate asylum applications through the US embassy in Sierra Leone, offering temporary housing and support in the US until individuals can establish independent lives.

Mission Statement:

To create a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ individuals in Africa, providing asylum, housing, and empowerment opportunities to help them live to their full potential.

Objectives:

  1. Establish a network with US embassies in African countries, starting with Sierra Leone, to facilitate asylum applications for LGBTQ individuals.
  2. Provide temporary housing and comprehensive support services for LGBTQ asylum seekers in the US.
  3. Offer empowerment programs, including educational opportunities, job training, and mental health support.
  4. Advocate for LGBTQ rights and raise awareness about the challenges faced by marginalized LGBTQ individuals in Africa.

 

Empowerment for Gay People in Africa:

It doesn’t mean that because you’re a gay person you cannot succeed in Africa. In Sierra Leone, many gay people, both men and women, look down upon themselves because they are gay and see themselves as unable to do better. But I’m here to tell you that you are as normal as any other human being.

 

You have the right to go to school, to graduate, to work, and to earn money. You have the right to be yourself. Don’t see yourself as abnormal; no! You can do anything you want as long as you’re capable of doing it. You don’t have to do drugs to feel better or to fit in. You can do better with your life. Life is all about how you see it, and you can do better and be better."