Aras Örgen

(He/They) 

GERMANY | TURKEY

About Aras

Aras Örgen is a dedicated well-being expert and human rights advocate with over 9 years of experience supporting LGBTI+ communities, migrants and human rights defenders worldwide. Aras’s work is shaped by his own experiences as a queer individual from Turkey and a commitment to addressing the unique well-being needs of marginalized communities. Specializing in resilience training, stress management, and organizational well-being, Aras approaches each group with a holistic lens that respects cultural nuances and diverse life experiences. Aras has BA in social work and been working on his master thesis on holistic care for human rights defenders. 

Currently, he works as a Capacity Strengthening Expert where he develops and delivers customized capacity support for LGBTI+ and refugee serving organizations. He personally works on activists’ mental health and the importance of resilience in human rights advocacy. Through his own ongoing journey of personal growth, Aras remains deeply committed to helping activists sustain their commitment to social justice while ensuring they receive the care, empathy, and support they need.

My journey as a queer individual from Turkey has been a foundational part of my commitment to well-being and resilience work, particularly for activists within marginalized communities. Growing up and navigating a society that often marginalizes LGBTI+ people, I have personally experienced both struggles and transformative moments of empowerment. This personal journey has shaped my understanding of resilience and deepened my empathy, as well as my commitment to promoting the well-being of those working on the frontlines of social justice. 

Throughout my journey, I have designed and facilitated more than 20 workshops and gatherings for queer activists in Turkey and the region, as well as over 10 international workshops specifically focused on well-being and resilience for queer human rights defenders and organizations. A significant highlight of my career is running the first and only well-being program for queer human rights defenders in Turkey, a program that I have designed, implemented, and expanded through collaboration with various partners and with the support of the community. This ongoing program has created a safe and empowering space for activists to address burnout, build resilience, and foster community. My work extends beyond facilitation to include program development, implementation, and collaborative partnerships, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes.

Working in a variety of contexts, from local LGBTI+ groups in Turkey to international organizations I have been developing my own unique decolonial and holistic approach thanks to the amazing human rights defenders I have been around with. I believe that wellbeing practices must go beyond standard frameworks to address the specific realities and cultural narratives of each group. This diversity of experience has shown me that well-being must be adaptable, inclusive, and respectful of individual histories and contexts. My approach is rooted in the understanding that every story, trauma, and triumph deserves recognition and validation, and my work emphasizes creating spaces where activists feel heard, valued, and understood. 

Through my roles, I have had the privilege of designing and facilitating workshops on building resilience, trauma-informed care, psychological first aid, and stress management. These workshops are co-created with participants and incorporate trauma-informed approaches and resilience practices that they can easily integrate into their daily routines. One of my core principles is to create inclusive spaces that foster a sense of belonging and safety, as I believe that true well-being occurs when activists feel seen and supported within their community. 

My commitment to well-being extends to my personal growth. I am currently in therapy and regularly attend workshops focused on self-awareness, resilience, and emotional health. Ultimately, my goal is to support exploring caring methods that goes beyond conventional.

I work closely with LGBTIQ and refugee-serving organizations across Central and Eastern Europe to support their efforts in fostering inclusive, resilient communities. I partner with local civil society organizations, from grassroots groups to established nonprofits. I am also personally involved in queer and migrant activism scene in both Turkey and Germany. 

Aras can provide:

As a consultant, I offer training and advisory services in well-being, resilience-building, and organizational capacity for NGOs, civil society organizations, and human rights defenders. My expertise includes designing customized workshops, facilitating training, and developing holistic, sustainable well-being frameworks that respect each group’s cultural and individual context. I am available for consultations tailored to organizational needs, providing strategies for stress management, psychological first aid, and inclusive care practices.

arasorgen@gmail.com

​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/arasorgen/ 

Publications:

  1. A Review on the Relation between Social Work, Immigration and Human Rights (2017) – https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/uobild/issue/42547/512757 
  2. Problems Faced By LGBTI Refugees in Turkey: Denizli Precedent (2016) – https://www.academia.edu/30963336/Problems_Faced_By_LGBTI_Refugees_in_Turkey_Denizli_Precedent 
  3. Where Do LGBTI+ Children Stand in the Topic of Children Abuse and Neglect (2018) – https://www.academia.edu/39055938/Where_Do_LGBTI_Children_Stand_in_the_Topic_of_Children_Abuse_and_Neglect 
  4. The Situation of Young LGBTI+ Community During Covid-19 Pandemic-Researcher-Research by Young LGBTI+ Association (2020) –https://genclgbti.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/covid-report.pdf 
  5. Effects on Covid-19 Pandemic over Sex Workers in Turkey, Researcher – Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association (2020) – https://dspace.ceid.org.tr/server/api/core/bitstreams/1dc790fb-e1a4-4887-abc7-12582a6cd11c/content 
  6. Queers, Well-being and Activism, Kaos GL (2022) – https://kaosgl.org/en/rainbow-forum-opinion-column/queers-well-being-and-activism 
  7. Mental Health and LGBTI+ Activism, LGBTI+ Focused Approaches on Mental Health, SPoD, Turkey (2022) – https://spod.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Ruh-Sagligi-Alaninda-LGBTI-Odakli-Yaklasimlar-KAYGI-1.pdf 
  8. Meeting well-being needs of LGBTI+ human rights defenders in Turkey: The example of May 17, 3rd International Conference on LGBT+ Psychology, ISPA, Portugal (2022) –https://www.ispa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LGBT-Psychology-Book-of-Abstracts-1.pdf  
  9. Community Well-being and Trauma-Informed Practices: Example of Turkey, Sydney World Pride: Human Rights Conference, ICC, Australia (2023)
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