Allies Section : Emre Can Özkan

Emre Can works as the Olympic Values Education Ambassador for the Olympic Values Education Project, a collaborative initiative between the UNDP, VISA Turkey, and the Habitat Association. In this role, Emre is dedicated to educating young people aged 11-18, including individuals with disabilities, on the fundamental Olympic values such as friendship, excellence, respect, and equality. His mission is to help foster a community built on the love of sports.

Emre’s responsibilities include developing educational modules on Olympic values, organizing seminars and workshops to raise awareness about the importance of inclusion, and encouraging young people to apply these values in their social responsibility projects. He guides participants on how to incorporate Olympic values into their everyday lives, providing leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship skills.

Additionally, Emre strengthens collaboration with project stakeholders, school administrators, and community leaders through regular meetings. He monitors the effectiveness of the training, gathering feedback and assessing the understanding of Olympic values through pre- and post-tests and case studies. Emre is committed to ensuring that young people from diverse cultural backgrounds understand and embrace these values, helping to shape a more inclusive and sports-loving society.

Advocating for Allyship and Inclusion

For me, an inclusive culture is one where every individual—regardless of gender, ability, background, or identity—is welcomed, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive. Allyship, in this context, means actively standing in solidarity with marginalized groups, using your voice, access, and skills to amplify their presence. It’s about creating space for others to step forward and stepping aside when necessary.

These values are deeply woven into both my personal and professional life. Throughout my career, I’ve committed myself to being an ally not just in words, but through tangible actions. From volunteering in the Rise Your Voice Project in Cairo to my work in the Olympic Values Education Project, I’ve consistently focused on helping to shape inclusive communities, especially for young people. These initiatives align with my belief that allyship is a lifelong journey, continuously nurtured through education, empathy, and intentional action.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen that true allyship involves more than just quiet support; it requires speaking up and making the invisible visible. This was especially clear during my time working with women and marginalized communities in Egypt. There, I helped identify and address systemic gender inequalities in corporate settings, learning firsthand that allyship demands both reflection and action. My involvement in various global initiatives, such as Empower Me: Youth Development Summit and the Generative AI Tools for Youth project, reflects my commitment to ensuring that technology becomes a tool for inclusion, not exclusion.

Allyship also means recognizing your privileges and using them to help others. I facilitate programs that provide digital skills training to underrepresented youth, particularly young women and individuals from rural areas. Through initiatives like these, I strive to bridge the digital divide and ensure that technology is accessible to all. My role is to simplify complex content, making it more accessible, and helping these young people unlock new opportunities.

I also actively seek to expand my understanding of allyship. I’ve received UNICEF-certified training in the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), equipping me to respond ethically and effectively to sensitive situations. I have also worked on the Olympic Values Education Programme, where I’ve encouraged youth of all abilities to challenge stereotypes, take leadership roles, and foster mutual respect.

Throughout my journey, embracing diversity has been about making the invisible visible and offering equal opportunities. One of my most impactful projects, Accessible Balance, supported mothers of disabled children across Europe by providing digital tools to improve their mental and physical well-being. The results were profound—87% of participants reported feeling less isolated, and stress, anxiety, and depression levels decreased by an average of 48%. This work demonstrated that supporting differences can create a meaningful transformation.

In my personal life, embracing inclusivity means actively seeking diverse perspectives and learning from others. Whether it’s through international volunteering or engaging in intercultural dialogue, I continuously challenge myself to expand my worldview. For instance, learning sign language to communicate with my hearing-impaired neighbors or supporting women in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has reinforced my belief that inclusivity isn’t about fixing things, but about coexisting together and making space for everyone.

The Role of Allyship in Personal Life

Inclusivity has transcended my professional environment and influenced my personal interactions. I’ve worked in diverse and multicultural environments across Türkiye, Egypt, and Europe, and these experiences have taught me the importance of cultural humility. I’ve learned that true allyship is about making space for others and stepping up when necessary, whether in the workplace or in daily life.

Advice on Allyship and Inclusivity

The most crucial advice I give others about allyship is this: Listen. Being a good ally doesn’t mean dominating the conversation but rather amplifying the voices of those who aren’t being heard. Allyship starts with acknowledging that not every experience is universal, and that our actions must be driven by empathy and understanding.

Being a Good Ally

For me, being a good ally means making a conscious effort to support others with both words and actions. Whether it’s giving space for quieter voices in a meeting, challenging exclusionary practices, or supporting underrepresented individuals in sports and beyond, allyship is about small, meaningful actions every day. It requires consistency, especially when it comes to standing up against injustice or discrimination. I have learned that being a good ally means actively using my privilege to help others and making space for them to shine.

#DEI #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #Workplaceinaction #Allyship #Alliessection