The 2nd Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium took place in Athens on November 25–28, 2025, bringing together young members of the Greek Diaspora aged 18–25, from 31 countries and 5 continents, who participated as speakers.
The Symposium was established in 2024 by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aiming to enhance the engagement of young people of Greek descent with contemporary Greek society. The Symposium aims to showcase opportunities for collaboration and networking between young people of the Diaspora and their peers in Greece, through the lens of contemporary challenges and emerging global prospects. This year, the Greek Youth Diaspora Ambassadors, young participants from the first Symposium, presented their initiatives promoting Hellenism and were awarded for their achievements.
The opening of the proceedings was addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, followed by a speech of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Greeks Abroad, Ioannis Loverdos, and the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maira Myrogianni.
Among the participants in the Symposium were, inter alia, the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Sofia Zacharaki; the Deputy Minister of Development responsible for Research and Innovation, Stavros Kalafatis; the Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Christos Dermetzopoulos; the Secretary General for Communication and Information, Dimitrios Kirmikiroglou; and the Chairman of the Hellenic Parliament’s Committee on Greeks Abroad, Filippos Fortomas. The proceedings were also attended by heads of diplomatic missions in Athens and a representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
On this occasion, Greek News Agenda spoke to one of the participants in the Symposium, namely Victoria Paneras, who talked about her overall impressions from participating in the Symposium, also discussing the ties that she and the Greek community in her country maintains with the homeland, and the ways in which Greece’s cultural image is represented there, as well as whether she would pursue a professional career in Greece either in the short term or in the long term.
Victoria Paneras is a 23-year-old, South Australian, second generation, Greek Cypriot who is a youth leader and emerging educator. She is currently studying a degree in Primary Education, majoring in science. She is the President of the Flinders University Hellenic Association and has previously been Co-president of the Adelaide University Greek Club. She is also part of the founding committee of the Greek Youth of South Australia, with a current role as Marketing Officer. Victoria is also, heavily involved in the Senior dance group of the Greek Lyceum of South Australia. Her philosophy is to actively promote and participate in Greek culture, community engagement and youth empowerment within South Australia and beyond. With experience in teaching, event organisation, and social media management, she is passionate about creating inclusive, culturally rich spaces for young people in the diaspora.
What are your overall impressions from participating in the 2nd Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium?
Participating in the second Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium was both inspiring and empowering. This experience provided a rare opportunity for young people of the diaspora to gather in one space to describe their experiences and reflect on the future of Hellenism beyond Greece’s borders. I was impressed by the diverse perspectives, particularly how many participants from different countries expressed a shared sense of identity but also raised unique local challenges. For me, what stood out was the emphasis on collaboration and creation on a global scale rather than just passive participation. There was a genuine effort to listen to youth voices and to involve us in the decision making, education and strategy and to involve our feedback. For me personally, this experience strengthened my confidence that the Greek diaspora is not just maintaining culture, but actively reimagining it on a global level.
How would you describe the ties that you – and the Greek community in the city/country where you live – maintain with the homeland?
Personally, my connection to Greece is deeply rooted through family, language, cultural practice and my Greek Orthodox faith. Despite living in South Australia, Australia, Greek traditions shape my identity and values. I regularly engage with Greek language, participate in Greek dance and often visit Greece. Within my local community, these ties are expressed through participation in organised initiatives such as Greek Youth of South Australia, Adelaide University Greek Club & Flinders University Hellenic Association, participation and volunteering at festivals and educational programs. In our city, the Greek community is vibrant and strongly interconnected – many of us attend Greek events, dance groups and youth led events. Digital communication has also allowed us to maintain close ties with other Greek organisations in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Canberra, where we often meet via ZOOM to plan and organise meet ups or events.
Would you consider pursuing a professional career in Greece, either in the short term or in the long term?
I speak for many youth representatives from the symposium in regard to pursuing a life in Greece. Many of us, including myself, are open to the idea of undertaking a professional career in Greece in areas related to education, culture, or international collaboration. In the short term, I would be interested in exchange programs, internships or collaborative projects that allow me to contribute while gaining experience. In the long term, it would depend on structural factors such as economic opportunity, career development pathways and the ability to build a sustainable life. While Greece offers an appealing cultural and lifestyle environment, the job market can be challenging for young professionals with specialised degrees. However, if meaningful opportunities existed, especially those involved in diaspora engagement, education and youth empowerment, I would strongly consider working in Greece either temporarily or permanently.
In your view, to what extent, and in what ways, is Greece’s cultural image represented or promoted within your community?
Greece’s cultural image is actively promoted within my community and its often through a traditional lens. Festivals, language schools, educational programmes, dancing groups and religious celebrations play a central role in showcasing our heritage and attract both Greek and non-Greek audiences. That said, there is a growing interest in expanding beyond just traditional representations. There is a large youth-led organisation presence in our country, where we are now experimenting with contemporary Greece through film, art, music & cuisine just to name a few. This presents Greece as a modern and innovative nation. This shows us that maintaining cultural identity is not simply about preservation, but also adaptation. Promoting Greece as a living culture, rather than a nostalgic one resonates with younger generations and builds a more forward-looking community identity.
TAGS: DIASPORA | GLOBAL GREEKS
