The Bicol Empowerment Project for a Sustainable LGBT Community expands the participation of the LGBT community to socio-political processes and activities in the Bicol region. The programme offers opportunities for these informal groups to formalise their organisations by obtaining accreditation from local government units and government agencies, by having their own organisational and financial system, and opportunities to partner with national government agencies like the DOLE, DOH, DSWD, and DTI.

The project will last 1 year, this timeframe will mainly be spent on empowerment training for members of GAYON Albay LGBT Org. Inc.and partner LGBT groups, Hinan-ay Grandiosa (Irosin, Sorsogon), Virac LGBT Group, (Virac, Catanduanes)Claveria LGBT Organization (Claveria, Masbate) Gayon Maylaud (Milaor, Camarines Sur), Oas LGBT Org., (Oas, Albay), Dominican Metamorphosis (Sto. Domingo), Rapu-Rapu LGBT Group (Rapu-Rapu, Albay), Paper Dolls (Donsol, Sorsogon) and Verde Sangre (Legazpi City).

The project “Bicol Empowerment project for a Sustainable LGBT Community” achieved the following:

Capacity Strengthening

Conducted Governance and Financial Management Training for community-based organisations  

Conducted Peer Education Training on SOGIE and HIV /AIDS and Human Rights 

Conducted Training of Trainers on SOGIE, Human Rights and HIV, AIDS  

Advocacy  

Conducted the Bicol Regional LGBT Meeting and Project Presentation 

Conducted Visits and Meetings with LGBT community- based organisations  

Meeting with local government unit and agencies to lobbying for SOGIE Equality Bill  

Social Movement Building 

Provide assistance on Community Based Organisations to formally register as accredited organisations and be able to represent the LGBT community in all aspects of local governance.   

Almost all members of the LGBT network are now working to comply with the SEC registration and local governments units accreditations and re- accreditations to obtain and maintain membership to different local special bodies and to the development councils in their respective municipalities and cities 

Additionally, it also achieved the following results

 CSOs increasingly participating in or initiating influencing and advocacy efforts  to protect and widen civil society space – 3 

Organisations supported with means (financial,  knowledge, skills, networks, training etc.) to strengthen capacity in specific areas – 3 

Informal groups/ organisations have presented their collective demands to external stakeholders – 3  

Informal groups indicate to have safe spaces to convene and work – 3  

Informal groups  indicate increased confidence to raise their voice – 3 

Change agendas developed facilitated by programme staff and grantee organization – 3 

Change agendas funded and implemented by marginalised and discriminated groups – 3 

Organisations that incorporated new approaches in realising their agenda for change – 3