Mauritius : Young Queer Alliance leading a youth organization for the inclusion of the LGBTIQ community

The Young Queer Alliance (YQA) is a non-governmental, youth-led and apolitical organisation registered in the Republic of Mauritius to empower youth, promote equality and leading change in the field of Sexual Orientation, Gender Expression and Gender Identity.Founded on the 1st February 2014 – a date that Mauritius commemorates the Abolition of Slavery –YQA was officially registered on the 1st September 2014 after a successful complaint at the Equal Opportunities Commission due to homophobic authorities.

Within these few years of existence, through advocacy, activism and field interventions on various legal, social, policy making and health matters, coupled with a strong networking among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) youth and other stakeholders, YQA has positioned itself as a reference in the struggle for equality in the Republic of Mauritius for the LGBTQI community at large and for local and regional actors.YQA is dedicated to advance human rights and youth empowerment in the Republic of Mauritius with a focus on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression.

Hence, the objective of YQA is:

• To advance human rights and youth empowerment in the Republic of Mauritius with a focus on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression & SRHR through activities that either:

1. Empower Individuals
2. Promote acceptance and celebrating diversity
3. Reclaim and change laws

YQA conducts a variety of activities aim at empowering LGBTIQH people and curb down homophobic reactions.

1. At community level, sensitization through Peer outreach on HIV, STI (focus on Gays and Bi men) is conducted.
2. Capacity building through trainings, online campaigning & reach through Website & social networking sites – to tackle stigma and discrimination
3. Broader advocacy work – engaging with UN mechanisms such as UNHRC &UPR

YQA equally provides various services to attain its mission & this includes:

1. Education, empowerment and sensitisation
2. Psycho-social counselling and case management
3. HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention
4. Safe spaces and emergency sheltering (emergency sheltering for LBT women and girls only)
5. Advocacy and litigation

Activity Budget (Approx)

Sensitization through Peer outreach        Rs 500,000 per year

Capacity building             Rs 150,000 per year

Advocacy Work Rs 10,000

MONITORING

During the initial process of any activity targets/goals to be achieved are set and the indicators such as number of reach/ attendance, quality of PEs work are set up.

EVALUATION METHODS

• Both qualitative and quantitative methods and tools
• Programmatic reports including number of materials given, field visit report, focus group discussion, among others

The main challenges faced by YQA are:

1.Finding resources to sustain activities

• Overcome by building meaningful partnership regionally and applying for funds with innovative ideas

2.Inefficient means of sensitization

• Overcome by use of new tools, media coverage and social media
• Ongoing training session with key stakeholders w.r.t HIV, access to healthcare and rights access (e.g. pharmacists, law enforcement persons, law persons, other service providers, social workers, young people, etc.)
• Recruitment and training of new members, volunteers and staff
• Developing new resources such as tools for outreach work
• Executive set-up: 43% male, 43% female and 14% other
• Follow up project based on outreach on Rights, HIV & SRH for young people targeting 1,000 people per year, of which 25% will be of female-gender, 70% male (gay and bisexual men due to most at risk population for HIV) and 5% transgender
• Online campaigns reaching around 55% female 45% male

Other organisations wishing to replicate the project can focus on their social efforts and moral responsibility of the citizens to drive awareness on LGBTQ people and to advocate for other possible changes in a given community. Talks can be organised to spread awareness and respect for the LGBTIQ community.