Dear Community,
It is with a mix of pride, gratitude, and bittersweet emotion that we announce the closure of Be You Network and its flagship programme, BØWIE, at the end of January 2025.
Founded in 2010, Be You Network was the first youth-led organization in Switzerland to advocate for LGBTIQ+ people on a national scale. Over the past 15 years, it has become a pioneer in creating inclusive platforms for creativity, entrepreneurship, and activism, impacting more than 175,000 direct beneficiaries annually across Switzerland and Europe.
Highlights from our journey include:
- Being selected as the first organization to partner with the City of Geneva for their inaugural campaign against LGBTIQ+phobias, marking a milestone in municipal support for inclusivity.
- Launching BØWIE in 2019, the first incubator in Europe specifically designed to support underrepresented founders—women and LGBTIQ+ individuals. Through this groundbreaking programme, we empowered over 200 changemakers, social entrepreneurs, artists, and SMEs to transform bold ideas into reality.
- Establishing Switzerland’s first queer art gallery, which attracted over 8,000 visitors in just six months and generated CHF 30,000 in revenue for emerging artists, contributing to the visibility and sustainability of queer art.
- Launching our very own online magazine to amplify diverse voices and stories, reaching millions of impressions worldwide and championing underrepresented perspectives.
- Seeing our co-founder, Sandrine Cina, being honored by prestigious global platforms, including the Ashoka Impact Programme as part of its international network of social entrepreneurs, being named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for her commitment to tackling critical social challenges, and being chosen as one of the Davos 50—a distinguished group of influencers and innovators invited to contribute fresh perspectives during the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos.
- Becoming the first organization in Switzerland to secure federal government funding for LGBTIQ+ issues, paving the way for future organizations to receive state support in advancing equality and inclusion.
Our achievements were made possible by the unwavering support of 130 annual volunteers, a talented team of up to 13 members, and over 110 strategic partnerships with organizations in 18 countries. We raised CHF 7 million to sustain and expand our mission, ensuring the longevity and growth of Be You Network even through challenges like the Covid crisis.
Despite these accomplishments, and after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors due to our inability to secure the necessary funding to continue growing under sustainable and optimal conditions.
Some of our programmes may continue under the stewardship of another foundation, as discussions are currently underway to ensure that the work we’ve started lives on. Additionally, all remaining assets of Be You Network will be donated to another organization actively fighting for the rights and well-being of LGBTIQ+ people. This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that the impact of our mission continues to support the community, even as our chapter comes to a close.
The spirit of Be You Network and BØWIE will live on in every project incubated, every artist supported, and every story told. The connections we’ve forged and the transformative impact we’ve created will continue to inspire change for years to come.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all who believed in and supported us—partners, collaborators, funders, and allies. Your trust, passion, and commitment made every milestone possible.
For those who wish to get in touch with our team, please note that our email addresses will remain active and redirected for a few months after our closure. We encourage you to reach out if you have any questions, need additional information, or simply want to share a memory or message with us. We would be delighted to hear from you during this transition period.
While Be You Network closes, we are confident that the seeds of progress we’ve planted together over the past 15 years will continue to flourish. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.
With gratitude,
The Be You Network & BØWIE Team
You can read our last activity reports (in French) here:
