Building a more collaborative approach to IGLYO’s International Conferences, to ensure a strong youth perspective can shine!
The Advisory Panel for International Collaboration (APIC) is IGLYO’s newest advisory body providing IGLYO with an expanded youth perspective in our international training and conference events. They began their work this year and are currently preparing for IGLYO’s upcoming International LGBTQI Youth Conference on Hate Crime & Hate Speech, taking place 8-13 November 2023 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
What is the APIC’s Mission?
The APIC aims to build a more structured and collaborative approach to integrating youth voices and perspectives into the development and delivery of our international conferences. This is achieved by the members of APIC by:
- Supporting the IGLYO Secretariat in the design and delivery of our thematic International Conference events.
- Providing skills in the areas of conference design, workshop facilitation and experience relevant to the thematic areas covered by our conferences.
- Providing vital perspective and experience to ensure that our conferences are holistically youth-led and that the work we do will be relevant to the needs and lived experience of our communities.
This work is already well underway in preparation for the upcoming Conference on Hate Crime & Hate Speech in Ljubljana.
Meet the Advisory Panel for International Collaboration!
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Kerem Egilmez (He/him, Turkey)
Kerem is a final-year psychology student with a background in mental health and human rights advocacy, policy consultancy and training sessions on social impact. In his university, he was a bridge between queer solidarity and the psychology society he chaired for a mandate.
One of his favourite projects was creating a digital photography collection themed "queer expression", which he defines as "not only a poetry of love and pride but also a story of pain left behind."
Besides his passion for activism, he's also into writing, cinema and music. Basically, everything that makes the world a bit better!
Tavares Ferreira (They/them, Portugal)
Tavares is a Portuguese activist currently pursuing a master's degree in international studies, with a specific focus on trans rights in Malta. They bring extensive experience as a trainer and facilitator, having worked with various organisations, dedicated to promoting the inclusion of LGBTI young people and fostering youth participation in decision-making processes.
Tavares is also a member of Brave Movement's youth Cohort, dedicated to ending child sexual violence. Their journey in activism began as a volunteer and later evolved into roles as a board member and President of "rede ex aequo," a Portuguese LGBTI youth organisation and IGLYO Member. During their tenure, they organised training sessions, events, and facilitated intercultural exchanges. They have a hidden secret talent, juggling!
Darius Gervinskas (They/She, Lithuania/UK)
Darius completed her master’s degree in Human Rights at University College London. After graduation, Darius joined Diversity Role Models, a UK-based LGBTQ+ anti-bullying charity. As their Education Officer, she has delivered inclusion workshops to thousands of young people and staff members in London schools and hundreds of professionals in other settings.
Currently, they are also a Junior Consultant on Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics at ILGA World, and a Research Volunteer at LGBT Foundation. Darius has also worked as an access worker to learning disabled and/or autistic adults for four years.
Jens van der Duim (They/them, The Netherlands)
Jens is a trainee at the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture & Sciences, and a happy activist. They work hard to ensure that we always take an intersectional approach to making the world better, and that everyone gets the space to share their perspectives and experiences, and they try to hold the metaphorical door open for all.
Jens is always happy to help others find their way, or claim their rights. They want you to know you're always welcome to reach out to them!