Deadline: 12 July 2026, 11:59 pm GMT+1
African Queer Youth Initiative (AQYI) is a network of youth activists working with LGBTQI+ young people across Africa. We build visibility, strengthen connections, and support community-led action through networking, advocacy, knowledge sharing, capacity development, and strategic partnerships. At the heart of our work is a commitment to ensuring that LGBTQI+ young people are meaningfully included in decisions that affect their lives.
We are looking for queer young people across Africa who care deeply about the rights and well-being of LGBTQI+ communities and want to help shape this work with us. Our members play a key role in guiding our programmes, ensuring they reflect the diverse realities and needs of our communities.
Are you a passionate queer youth or activist looking to make a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQI+ youth in Africa?
This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a dynamic group of young LGBTQI+ people committed to advancing the rights and well-being of LGBTQI+ youth in Africa, volunteering with the AQYI to empower our communities, reform policies, collaborate with others to increase our impact, and support our communities in achieving a brighter future.
Membership includes the opportunity to be involved in the following:
- Represent your local communities and keep AQYI updated on issues and challenges affecting queer persons within your communities.
- Represent your communities in relevant platforms and advocacy spaces through AQYI to highlight important issues.
- Direct involvement in our work informs our initiatives and activities, grounded in your local contexts, and supports the organisation in creating interventions that respond to the needs of the diverse communities you represent.
- Utilise your skills and expertise to advance the mission and values of AQYI.
- Disseminate AQYI awareness-raising and outreach information.
- Network with other activists, advocate for change, generate knowledge and share information, build your capacity, form partnerships, and participate in decision-making processes that affect the lives of young LGBT+ Africans.
Most of the work of the AQYI is conducted remotely and online through Zoom calls, Google Docs, polls, emails, WhatsApp, and other means of digital communication. We rely on an active volunteer membership to achieve our goals and objectives.
Eligibility/Requirements
To be a member:
- You must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Be an LGBTQI+ person from Africa and commit to supporting the goals and objectives of the AQYI.
- Our current working languages are English and French, which means members must possess sufficient understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills in either language. The ability to communicate in both languages is an added advantage.
- Be willing and able to commit a minimum of 5 hours a week to AQYI activities, including contributing meaningfully to conversations, responding to emails, and participating in planned activities.
- We encourage applicants from the following backgrounds to apply:
– Human Rights
– HIV/AIDs advocacy
– Movement Building
– Strong Leadership Skills
– Experience in Fundraising
– Writing and Research experience
– Communication (news media, social media, graphic design, etc.)
– Experience with Litigation and advocacy
– Information Technology
– Experience and/or involvement with local, regional, or international volunteer organisations
– Facilitation and Public Speaking
– Experience with Policy Analysis
– Interpretation/Translation
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We accept members from diverse backgrounds and skills. Applicants must demonstrate (in their application) how relevant their skills or experiences are to our work and the potential impact on our communities in Africa.
How to apply
Click here to apply before the deadline.
Please read the membership call carefully before applying. If you have any questions, you can reach us at info@aqyi.org.
NOTE: Applicants are strongly advised to read the entire application call carefully before applying. Only complete applications or applications received before the deadline 12 July 2026, 11:59pm GMT+1. will be considered.
For enquiries, please email us at info@aqyi.org.