We envision a world where gender equity prevails and in which every African LBTQ+ woman and non-binary business owner has the economic power to create generational wealth.
The Q Networq is among 34 (out of 7800) incredible organisations selected to receive funding and other support from the #GoogleOrgImpactChallenge for Women and Girls by Google.org
Why LBTQ+ Women and Nonbinary Business Owners?
Although South Africa is a front runner on the African continent in the fight to establish and normalize the rights of women and members of the LBTQ+ community, violence and discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation and expression remain rampant. As a result, a disproportionate percentage of African LBTQ+ women and nonbinary persons drop out of school and business, face bullying and in general are disenfranchised. This perpetual economic exclusion of African LBTQ+ women and nonbinary persons impacts the livelihoods and well-being of queer families and communities, resulting in great economic loss.
Our Donors
In March 2021, we applied to the Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls, an open call to organizations working on projects that create economic opportunities for women and girls. We are thrilled that we were selected from a pool of 7,800 applications to receive funding and additional support from Google.org!
The Other Foundation is an African trust that advances equality and freedom in southern Africa with a particular focus on sexual orientation and gender identity. The foundation was our first donor when we started back in 2019 and our journey with them continues to strengthen each year.
Gender Links (GL) is a leading Southern African Women’s Rights Organisation whose work has been widely acclaimed across the continent. Two times winner of the Mail and Guardian “Investing in the Future Award”, GL has also received Top Women, Drivers of Change and African Union awards for its outstanding contribution to advancing women’s rights in this sub-region.
We believe that it takes a tribe to build a tribe. Here’s how you can join our tribe.
Get Involved
What Access means to us?
“Being and entrepreneur has its hurdles but when you add black queer female and township based startup, it gets a little trickier to say the least. In 2020, I was introduced to an organisation, The Q Networq, that offered opportunities to people who oftentimes are forgotten and ostracized.”
Tshepiso Sibisi CEO, Mwari Pizza
“Thank you to The Q Networq team for making this possible and this amazing journey and keep doing what you do and inspire more queer women, as queer women we need more platforms like these”
Thando Radebe CEO, Lithane Cleaning Services
Our Partners
