Duygu Aşık
Elmas Yılan
Emel Türker Alpay
Merih Beler
Ömer Yalçın
Tolga Kızılay
Umut Avcı
Duygu Aşık
Duygu started working in children’s and youth rights at various civil society organizations when she was a student at Marmara University. Later, she started working professionally in civil society organizations, focusing on women’s rights, children’s rights, the right to education, and gender. She continues her work on community-based care, empowering/advocating for activists, nonviolence, and memory studies. As a feminist vegan, she explores the ways to strengthen through art and shares her experiences with other communities. She has been a board member of the Nonviolence Center since 2021.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
The Nonviolence Center focuses on the field in which I’m involved, have experiences, and whose needs I address in my work. The center’s approach and culture align with my values. Thanks to the center’s scope and methods, I feel like I am part of a community where I enjoy engaging in collective work and where I feel nurtured and encouraged to transform and create more as an activist. This community instills hope in me.
Elmas Yılan
Since 2015, Elmas has been conducting work on gender and nonviolence in civil society organizations. They are a feminist activist and currently pursuing a master’s degree in Women’s Studies. They have been a volunteer at the Nonviolence Center since 2017 and assumed the role of Communications Coordinator in July 2019.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
To be part of this center and engage in collective learning and working to create a nonviolent world is being part of change for nonviolence. For me, it is very empowering and heartening to be part of the Nonviolence Center.
Emel Türker Alpay
Emel took an interest in nonviolence studies while volunteering at Greenpeace in 2009. She has been running training for nonviolence direct action and trainers. She became part of the training network of the Nonviolence Center in 2017 and organized workshops on nonviolence with various civil society organizations that are part of the network. She continues to work and conduct research in the field of nonviolence, and she has been a member of the center’s board of directors since 2021.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
To be at the Nonviolence Center is to be a part of the change I advocate for. I am here to work towards creating a world of justice, peace, and nonviolence and achieve this dream by acting collectively.
Merih Beler
Merih has been a volunteer activist in Şugarmekanlar, Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week, and many other organizations for the past 7 years. His path crossed with the Nonviolence Center when he participated in the center’s workshops held during Pride Week. As of 2021, he is a board member of the Nonviolence Center, focusing on strategy and institutional policies. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Marmara University and in his free time, he enjoys developing recipes as a vegan dietitian. Merih identifies himself as a trans feminist.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
I feel like I’m relieved of my burdens every time I step into the Nonviolence Center. At the center, I feel safe, knowing that I’m recognized, heard, and free from hierarchy. I am here to work on nonviolent organizing, conflict resolution, organizational well-being, and much more. Here, I spend each day identifying new needs and working on them. Life is full of conflicts, but being in a space where there is healing and where there are supportive teammates is very special. Being able to exist safely as a trans-experienced man at the center and knowing that I’m at an intersectional space adds to my thrill of struggle every day.
Ömer Yalçın
Ömer has worked in resource development in civil society organizations since 2007 and has been working as the head of resource development at UNICEF for 5 years. He has been a board member at the Nonviolence Center since 2017.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
To be at the Nonviolence Center is to pursue many activities in various fields such as striving to build a just, peaceful, and equitable future, seeking nonviolent solutions globally, and organizing workshops and training tailored to civil society organizations, initiatives, and groups. To be at the Nonviolence Center is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to advocate for a just, peaceful, and equitable world. Being a part of the center gives a purpose and helps me feel important and valuable.
Tolga Kızılay
Tolga has been working on human rights since 2011, and since 2014, he has been conducting professional work on topics such as nonviolence, peace, and gender in various civil society organizations. He has taken on the roles of volunteer, member, and board member since the beginning of the Nonviolence Center and became the center’s general coordinator in July 2020.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
I believe that a world shaped around rights and freedom can only be achieved with a strong civil society. Therefore, the Nonviolence Center, which works toward creating a strong civil society, is the right place for me. It is very exciting and heartening to be part of the nonviolence ecosystem and work for change.
Umut Avcı
Umut is a civil society professional and activist. She continues her work on civil society at the Nonviolence Center and oversees the center’s education activities and content creation. She has taken on the board member role and supported the center’s organizational development. She identifies herself as a feminist and an advocate for LGBTI+ rights.
What does being a part of the Nonviolence Center mean to you? Why are you at the Nonviolence Center?
For me, to be part of the Nonviolence Center is to contribute to the dream of a nonviolent world. The center’s open-mindedness towards learning and evolving, its recognition of diverse identities, and its structure and culture of nurturing well-being empower me as a political actor. Witnessing the efforts to achieve the dream of nonviolence amid changing circumstances and being part of this continuous endeavor makes the vision of a nonviolent world tangible for me.