Needs_Assessment report by Toni Tegola

Needs Assessment Report Reporting Period 1st July 2009 – 31 Dec 2010 A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE MIGRANT AFRICAN LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE NETHERLANDS

Milestone 2

STICHTING AFRICAN GAY YOUTH FOUNDATION Authored by: La Tegola www.africangay.eu info@africangay.eu

NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT Needs Assessment Jul 13, 2009

Jul 31, 2009

Pre Process Phase

Aug 1, 2009

Aug 31, 2009

Process Phase

Sep 1, 2009

Sep 30, 2009

Analysis Phase

A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE MIGRANT AFRICAN LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE NETHERLANDS

On both 26th September 2009 and 28th November 2009 , there was a general foundation Stakeholder meeting with the purpose of involving the primary project beneficiaries (as a focus group) in the project design and implementation within the proposal guidelines. The focus group‘s task was to Identify needs and define possible strategies of interventions. This is the report on the results of a needs assessment conducted for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) African community, and it is the first study by the African Gay Youth Foundation [Type the document title] | [Pi ck the date]

Utilizing interview data collected the assessment shows that no services are provided specifically for LGBT migrants, and most LGBT migrants turn to family and friends when they have needs. The most significant result of this study pertains to the lack of cultural sensitivity and an overall deficiency in terms of cultural awareness when it comes to the specific needs of LGBT migrants. A comprehensive picture of the conditions combined with a good understanding of the causes is indispensable to the achievement of strategic community goals. This picture of conditions can do many things: • Create openings for community by-in • Create opportunities for new alliances and connections with new partners • Form successful strategies • Insure services meet the needs of the community • Build credibility • Guide board governance in sound decision making

• • • •

Guide staff training and educational planning Enhance capacity to respond to change Generate authentic input from stakeholders Indicate causes and conditions

The community needs assessment is an integral part of the Promoting Community Dialogue and Partnership PROJECT Initiative – an initiative which will ensure local needs are met, document results, ensure focus on what the Foundation does, and ensure good management practices. An integrated comprehensive needs assessment is required in year one with plans and initiatives to build from there. A comprehensive needs assessment is a vital part of the project process. The assessment is used to help develop a picture of organizational quality, recognize best practices, and identify possible opportunities for improvement. The needs assessment is more than just a gathering and analyzing of data, it will be the basis for creating change. We can begin to create change by setting a framework for programs and plans that work toward facilitating Inter-community understanding and acceptance through community Dialogue.

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The Strategic Planning Proc es s

The assessment will provide important community information as to who may be working on issues and where gaps in community services lie. It provides an opportunity to meet and develop partnerships strengthening services for the target community . Finally a needs assessment helps the foundation in its planning process by providing the foundation for strategic operational planning, assessing if the project is meeting the needs of the community and determining what programs or projects may have become obsolete and what programs or projects may provide new opportunities for the foundation. It is the beginning of a comprehensive strategic planning process.

TIMEL INE The timeline for conducting the need assessment was dependent upon the staff available, workloads, and size of the community being examined. We created the following rough guide:

Phase Pre-process 13 – 31 July 2009

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Process phase 1-31 Aug 2009

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• Analysis phase 1-26 sep 2009

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Actions Set the timeframe and timeline Determine who will be the primary team to oversee the assessment and who will be responsible for the data collections, surveying, and information gathering Review and evaluate results of past activities Review and evaluate results of past activities Conduct the surveys, focus groups, interviews and collect the statistical data Set up a cross functional team representing different programs and from across the agency structure as well as interested board members and stakeholders for review of the statistical and agency gathered data and analyze the information Break into individual issue teams if necessary for review of the areas and hold discussions Gather for reporting out and hold focused discussion to prioritize the issues Write the needs assessment based on the information gathered

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The Proces s

Data coll ection – Surveying The Foundation conducted a survey to determine ‘felt’ needs . We surveyed foundation members, organizational partners and the African community at large. We used the following criteria in determining the survey. •

The questions to ask - The survey questions were to be kept short and to the point.

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Determine the types of people to ask

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Determine the method of asking the questions – on site, through the mail, during meetings, or electronically. We had the survey available at social venues frequented by the African communities in Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam. We also sent the survey questionnaire out via email to our foundation a distribution list of 349 names.

Data coll ection – Focus Group On 28th November 2009, a focus group meeting was held. 10 members of the Foundation attended, which was an average turn out for our regular meetings. Ages of those attending ranged from 24 years to 48 years, with seven males, and three females. -

Semi-structured questions used for discussion by the group included:What are the issues facing you as a migrant LGBT person of African origin living in the Netherlands? What can the African Gay youth Foundation do to improve/fix some of these things?

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The focus group attendees were asked to imagine their ideal community in 50 years time, and to discuss what they thought it would look like, their comments included: -

Greater acceptance of LGBT people by their own communities. More migrant LGBT friendly bars and nightclubs A drop-in centre for LGBT ethnic minorities

Data coll ection - Per sonal int erview s We conducted personal interviews with the identified group. Personal interviews allowed us to delve deeper into various aspects of the questions, however, the process of personal interviews took a long time to conclude.

A sample of 45 heterosexual and Homosexual Africans were recruited to participate in a 15 to 20 minute interview to be conducted by the focus group. Each focus group member was asked to approach at least five individuals who were either of African origin or were African LGBT individuals.

Summary of f indings – Background Africa is a continent that is primarily hostile to its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population which explains some of the findings of the needs analysis.

Homophobia and Tran sphobia in th e Dutch Afric an community What are homosexuality and homophobia? Homosexuality is the description used for sexual attraction between persons of the same sex. A person who feels sexually attracted to someone of the same sex is called a ‘homosexual’ or referred to as ‘gay’. Homophobia is the word used to describe the fear of, hatred for and discrimination against people who are sexually attracted to members of the same sex. Homophobia is a problem all over the world, but in many African societies gay people are treated particularly harshly. In over 30 African countries, homosexuality is banned altogether.

There is just as much homophobia in the African community in the Netherlands as there is in Africa. As a result, many African gay men in the Netherlands have kept their sexuality a secret. Being forced to live ‘underground’ (or ‘in the closet’) can have serious consequences, such as: • • • • • •

isolation, even from family members psychological and behavioral problems difficulty in accessing sexual health services few opportunities for a meaningful relationship tendency to take any opportunity for sex that comes along tendency not to practice safer sex.

The last two mean that such men are more vulnerable to getting infected with HIV.

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Homophobia is very deep-rooted in the African culture, religion and music. Expressions of homosexuality are repressed by condemning homosexuals, their families and friends. Mocking, shame, ostracism, scorn, violence and prayers for salvation are reported means of keeping homosexuals in the closet or making them normal. Some homosexuals respond to this stigmatization by avoiding their communities and others build supportive networks outside their communities; while others struggle to keep it a secret by pretending to be heterosexual

Vi sibi lity The African LGBTI group is basically invisible, and has been referred to as non-existent or accused of possessing an un-African sexual orientation. Allusions to same-sex desire, have historically been rare in African writings. If the issue is acknowledged at all, such desire is typically characterized as either a pathological condition that deserves to be punished or eliminated or regarded as an exotic influence from the West. Africans who hate gay men generally claim that homosexuality is un-Christian, un-African, encourages immorality and is a Western lifestyle being imposed on Africans by Western gay groups. However, the suggested solution to counter these false notions was to reiterate and acknowledge, and respect the human rights of the African LGBTI community both in the Netherlands and in Africa.

Informat ion from a Cultura l Afric an per spective The target community refuted the hypothesis that same-sex needs are un-African by using the traditional African pluralism to same-sex persons. In some African cultures, LGBTI people were seen as a linkage between the people and the gods, and were believed to be created for a divine purpose. Therefore re-affirming the African tradition in this context becomes a tool with which to fight homophobia and transphobia arising from Christianity and Islam as foreign religions.

Chall enging myth s about homos exu ality Africans who hate gay men generally claim that homosexuality is un-Christian, un-African, encourages immorality and is a Western lifestyle being imposed on Africans by Western gay groups.

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But the facts are very different: • •

• •

There is nothing in the Holy Books to justify the claim that homosexuality is un-Christian. Gay men used to be accepted in several African communities, notably the Zande of north-eastern Congo Democratic Republic, the Dagara of Burkina Faso, the Ambo of Angola and the Baga of Guinea. There is no evidence that gay men are any more immoral than heterosexuals. There is no evidence that homosexuality is being imposed on Africans by Western gay groups.

Leader ship Creating context-based leadership for LGBTI-led programming as it relates to the antagonistic environment they live I and sharing of practical experiences.

Enlightening interc es sion through Exh ibition s It was suggested that there was a need to hold exhibitions themed on being Proudly Gay and African .The exhibitions were to be on art, audio-visual material, books and photography. The se exhibitions would be enlightening intercessions in terms of the need for social justice. The aim of the exhibitions, among other reasons, is to create awareness and more understanding of the African LGBTI group of people. According to one of the participants surveyed, “The p or tr aits a re our im ages an d they spea k our wo rds, they tell ou r sto ries, they express ou r feelings, they exhibit ou r pride, even ou r fea rs, t hey are ou r histo ry, t hey are us to da y and the his tor y of the Afric an t ran sgender s tru ggle in fu ture. They a re s treng th, hope an d pride to generati ons af ter us.”

Res earch , advocacy and collabor ation. Ideas were recommended about future activities for LGBTI research, advocacy and alliances; the importance of understanding the thinking of funders about priorities, challenges and strategies in funding; to inform funders about priorities as experiences by LGBTI activists; and to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills as a way to effectively mobilize resources and deliver good quality LGBTI work.

Identiti es – Being L GBT and African There is no singular LGBT African community in the Netherlands. LGBT Africans describe having complex identities and a sense of allegiance to several communities. For some respondents, being LGBT is primary, which influences their investment of time, energy, and money.

There were very few participants who were proud of being both LGBT and African and these did not necessarily feel a strong need to participate in the organized African community.

Perceptions o f Barri er s and Ch alleng es Many LGBT Africans in the study perceive that organizations that offer LGBT programming lump everyone together regardless of demographic, geographic, or personal diversity. LGBT Africans are aware of the COC programs but cite language and cultural relevancy as key barriers to participation. These LGBT Africans would consider participation in more programs, events, and activities if they were

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While all those LGBT Africans surveyed felt passionate about being African, being LGBT was looked at as being shameful and something to be hidden. This was due to a strong need to participate in the organized African community.

local, affordable, fun, and relevant. Sometimes LGBT Africans don’t know where to find information about LGBT-related programs.

What do LGBT Afr icans want and need from the A frican Commun ity in term s of servic es , program s, and inclu sion? Demographically Targeted Programming: LGBT programming based on a "one size fits all" model does not meet some LGBT Africans’ needs. There is a preference for more demographically targeted programming that is local, convenient, and easily accessible. LGBT Africans want to see more specific marketing that identifies what kind of LGBT Africans the programs are aiming to attract. More Identifiable Pathways to Involvement and Leadership: Some LGBT Africans want to be involved in LGBT Africans communal leadership, but they don’t know where, how, or through what venues. Many LGBT Africans (across the spectrum of Africans engagement) cited their participation in this study as a way of engaging with the African community.

What are the gaps in s ervice s and outreach to L GBT A frican s ? Building Organizational Capacity: Respondents from the target group felt that The African Gay Youth Foundation as the only African LGBT organization did not have the Organizational Capacity to support them as they should. It was observed that they needed help with resources (i.e., funding), training, marketing and outreach, and program development. They also want to ramp up their capacity to signal to LGBT Africans (through a variety of channels) that they are welcoming, inclusive, and want LGBT Africans to walk through their doors.

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What Might Be Offered? Programming for targeted LGBT sub-populations, organizationally-based programming, and online resources. There was currently no African targeted programming .Organizationally-based programming could offer a range of LGBT-thematic programs and events to a wide variety of people. Several LGBT respondents didn’t know where a ‘central address’ was located that offered comprehensive Africans LGBT-related information, referrals, and resource materials online. More Identifiable Pathways to Involvement and Leadership: Some LGBT Africans in this study want to get involved in the Africans community, but are not sure where to turn, which organizations they might choose, and how they might contribute.

Policy implic ations The following policy implications were identified • Acknowledge the diversity of identities and needs among LGBT Africans •

Provide comprehensive community-wide programming and support that target LGBT Africans

Test imonie s of A frican Gay m en In the Netherlands, gay men are protected by the law. However, many African gay men in this country say that they are subjected to abuse and ridicule by people in their own communities, including friends and relatives. These testimonies are from African gay men in the Netherlands. They have asked for their names not to be revealed. “I ran a way from my country, Cote d’Ivoire, after my neighbours asked me to leave the village. Homophobia is so bad there that in the capital Abidjan, the body of a man who had been buried for three days was taken out of the grave and burnt after people found out he had been gay.”

““It was my boyfriend’s birthday so I treated him to a night at an African dis co pla ce in Amsterdam East. Arou nd midnigh t, after a few drin ks, we must have done a little kissing, for before long we were being chased out of the hall, amidst insults. La ter in the week, warnings were sent to all popular African night-spots in Amsterdam East not to allow gay people in their premises.”

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“My cousins asked me to tell them whether I was gay or not. I told them I was gay, but they found it a struggle to deal with i t. One of them advised me not to talk abou t it to anyone. Up to now they still cannot brin g themselves to call my boyfriend by that description. They call him ‘your

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