Episode 23- Escaping LGBTQ Persecution in Papua New Guinea And The Struggles While Finding Refuge in AustraliaManu Kailom sought asylum in Australia after spending time in jail in his home country Papua New Guinea for being a member of the LGBTQ community. Manu shared the struggles he faced being a gay man of color in the LGBTQ refugee and asylum seeker community in Australia. Language barriers, culture shock, and difficulties finding a job and a community, did not stop Manu from becoming successful. Today he runs a program and a community center working with the LGBTQ community of refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne. The program helped build a bridge the gap between the two communities, and the center provides a variety of services such as English classes, a community kitchen where volunteers cook food, social activities, access to computers to accomplish their studies, a food bank for those who do not yet have a work permit, trauma informed counseling services, and tools to advocate for themselves.
Manu is publishing a book titled "Please Hold My Hand" about his journey and challenges coming to Australia, and already published a children's book about migration.
If you would like to help by volunteering in Melbourne, or donating from anywhere in the world, please visit https://www.manycolouredsky.org
# LGBTQ Refugee SupportPrograms helping LGBTQ individuals who have sought refuge from persecution due to their sexual orientation.
