In 2023, Viatel Technology Group selected the Talented Youth Community Fellowship Uganda (TAYCOF) as our Pride fundraiser beneficiary. Over the month of June, the team at Viatel raised €1,000 for the organisation. TAYCOF is an inclusive faith-based ministry led by Black Transgender women & open to the queer community, championing freedom and rights through religion.
On May 29, 2023, it was announced that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had signed into law one of the most draconian anti-LGBTQ+ laws ever seen. The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act will significantly restrict the ability of LGBTQ+ Ugandans to participate in public life and engage in advocacy.
This legislation has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech, expression, and association and will curtail liberty, privacy, and equality. TAYCOF has been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of those affected, running safehouses and providing safe transportation for indiviudals who are frequently jailed as a result of the law.
Purity Tumukwasibwe is a trans woman and trans activist from Uganda & Board Chairperson for TAYCOF. Purity spoke with Raevynna El Messaoudi and Annie Browne from Viatel Technology Group to share the importance of our support at this time.
Learn more about TAYCOF here.
Meet Our Speakers
Purity Tumukwasibwe
Purity Tumukwasibwe is a trans woman and trans activist from Uganda, She is a social scientist by profession, a board chairperson for TAYCOF, a board chairperson for Refugee Trans Initiative-Kenya ( RTI), a board member of Trans Gender Europe ( TGEU) and Rainbow Refugees Sweden, an anti Racism task force member for IGLYO, a freelance actress with National Black Theatre of Sweden and musical poet.Â
Raevynna El Messaoudi, Business Analyst.
In addition to her passion for digital transformation and business analysis at Viatel, Raevynna has been advocating for transgender rights for the past 12 years, most recently as a facilitator for the Trans Limerick Community, Senior Ambassador for the Shona Project and as a former board member of the TGEU (Transgender Europe).Â
Annie Browne, Group Culture Lead.
Annie is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ Community and an advocate for equal rights and diversity, as well as supporting many organisations and non-profits both within her role at Viatel and outside of it. She is the driving force behind many of our fundraising and CSR initiatives including Milford Hospice Coffee Morning and Movember.