For obvious security reasons, we cannot disclose the identity of the 2 team members supporting campaigning and narrative work in Russian speaking contexts nor the specific content of our programme, which reaches out to 200+ activists, inside and outside Russia.
Otieno (he) is a strategic communications practitioner, institutional systems strengthening catalyst, narrative enthusiast and dialogue facilitator who uses narrative approaches to promote inclusivity and reduce violence against LGBTIQ+ plus persons in Kenya. Presently, he is the Sogicampaigns Africa team lead, coordinating capacity building on public campaigning for 8African countries under the Free To Be me Program. Otieno is a proud parent to a lesbian identifying young woman.
Marsel works as a Program Officer at the European Union Sivil Düşün Program, supporting active citizens and civil society organizations throughout Türkiye. He also is the founder of Kampanya+, a queer campaigners support programme stemming out of Sogicampaigns. He is also Regional Coordinator at Global Grassroots Support Network. He also volunteers in the Political Participation Team at Social Policy, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation Studies (SPoD)
Mariano (he) is a LGBTIQ+ human rights advocate. He holds board positions within influential organizations and consults for the World Bank and IOM. Mariano’s expertise in project management, public policy and strategic communications benefits vulnerable populations, particularly LGBTIQ+ individuals and refugees. His commitment is recognized through multiple fellowships and awards from global human rights institutions. He leads the LAC chapter of SOGI Campaigns, Derechos Humanos y Diversidad.
Joel (he) has been the main facilitator for more than 10 years of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, building it into one of the main global annual landmarks of LGBTQI+ advocacy.
Out of this expertise, and his 20 years of campaigning for global justice for Oxfam and Actionaid, Joel developed in 2015 the Sogicampaigns project. Joel specialises in communications, narrative building, framing and values-based approaches.