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Description
Studies from recent years (CURS, 2021) show that only a third of the general population trusts the NGOs and the sector is affected by a series of factors, either positive - solidarity in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, solidarity with Ukrainian refugees - or negative - disinformation campaigns regarding the Covid-19 vaccine, regarding the war in Ukraine, media campaigns to discredit NGOs. For the LGBT community in Romania, given the quasi-total absence of the state in solving specific problems, the LGBT NGOs are the repository of all of the community expectations. Based on the results of the project Campus Pride - advocacy campaigns for safe universities, funded by ACF 7, the current project proposal aims to increase the degree of civic involvement of LGBT citizens and allies by informing them about the Campus Pride results, but also about the role and function of NGOs, thus strengthening the base of supporters (constituency) by actively recruiting new members through information sessions and one-on-one interviews around the annual General assembly of the organization. The project also proposes to increase the visibility of civil society organizations by mobilizing LGBT allies through a communication campaign that aims to popularize the results of the Campus Pride project, doubled by mapping allies and organizing an allies Gala, a gala organized with support from a National Partner, I am! You? Association, which would bring more contribution with the workshops and legitimacy to the project and civil society as a whole. The project targets the LGBT community and allies and will have 460 direct beneficiaries and 45,300 indirect beneficiaries. The central message is that NGOs are the foundation of democracy and direct involvement in their work generates systemic change, especially for vulnerable, minority groups.
Summary of project results
The We Are Here project aimed to increase the visibility of the LGBT NGO sector at national level through three awareness and engagement campaigns over 12 months.
The main activities involved educating LGBT people and allies about NGO activism through 4 events, interviews with potential candidates for the leadership of MozaiQ Association, as well as organizing two General Assemblies of the association, promoted in social media and press. Also, 10 Romanian influencers were recruited, who promoted MozaiQ and NGO activities in general in social media. All these activities aimed at promoting the NGO environment to the public. In order to continue and build inclusiveness in the Romanian university environment, workshops were organized in four cities, promoting tools for creating inclusive student centers, as well as 4 meetings with university stakeholders and a social media storytelling campaign about the experiences of Romanian students. Following this activity an LGBT student center was opened in Iasi by the Loud initiative group.
The central event of the project was the Romanian LGBT Allies Gala, which gathered more than 200 participants, people from civil society, allies from media, corporate, creative industry, celebrities and influencers. Prizes were offered to allies and speeches promoting the cause. The project was exposed to the media through two dedicated press events and three press releases resulting in 9 press materials published in the media. It also had wide social media exposure, in particular through the Allies Gala. The project achieved its aim to make civil society more visible, to civically engage LGBT citizens, allies and young people in the NGO sector. The project exceeded the target and had a total of 560 unique direct beneficiaries who participated in NGO activities and 169,360 indirect beneficiaries through social media reach.