Our Programs
Our programs and initiatives are rooted in the core belief that to solve the challenges facing African queer youths, they must be given the right tools and platform to enable them to demand their rights. We are constantly finding innovative ways to support African Queer youths with the necessary resources to lead change within their local communities.
MawuLisa Fellowship Program
The MawuLisa fellowship program is a 6-month dedicated program to support emerging and mid-career young African LBTQ+ womxn/activists from Francophone West African countries. The MawuLisa Fellowship Program fills a crucial void by providing leadership support to queer activists in Francophone West African countries. In many Francophone countries, queer activists face significant challenges due to a lack of access to leadership support and resources. This inequity inspired the creation of the MawuLisa Fellowship Program. By focusing on the specific needs of these individuals, this program aims to empower them to become effective agents of change in their local communities and beyond.
The MawuLisa Fellowship Program is currently closed for applications. Stay informed about future opportunities by clicking here to subscribe to our Newsletter.
Fuelling Digital Activism in Africa (FDA)
The FDA initiative is a ground-breaking program specifically designed to empower and uplift emerging queer African youth leaders by equipping them with non-violent digital skills. It aims to advance African LGBTQI+ rights advocacy through the use of safe and secure digital platforms. We identified a pressing need for such a program due to the escalating challenges faced by LGBTQI+ communities in the region; well-funded and organised opponents of LGBTQI+ rights have exploited digital platforms to propagate messages of hate and exclusion. The FDA program seeks to address this need by providing the necessary expertise and skills required by local activists. Through the FDA initiative, we aim to strengthen local campaigns in some of the most discriminatory countries across East, West, Southern, Central and Northern Africa. By empowering young queer leaders with digital skills and knowledge, we believe they can effectively challenge the narratives of hate and exclusion, promoting acceptance and equality within their communities.
The Fuelling Digital Activism in Africa Training is currently closed for applications. Stay informed about future opportunities by clicking here to subscribe to our Newsletter.
Zimuzo (Mentorship)
The Zimuzo mentorship program aims to support and empower young LGBTQI+ persons between the ages of 15 – 25 With leadership and professional influence, guidance, and direction through an experienced professional (the mentor). As a mentorship program, Zimuzo enables the mentees to learn from the mentors with resources and support from the AQYI. The mentees also collaborate with peers and design and implement goals and objectives aligning with their developmental interests and within a timeline. The Zimuzo Mentorship Program is currently closed for applications. Stay informed about future opportunities by clicking here to subscribe to our Newsletter.