On 29 September 2026, Marilena Maragkou, Co-founder and COO of Youthmakers Hub, represented our organization at the event “The City Is for Everyone. But Is Everyone Part of It?”, organized by KMOP in Piraeus, Greece.

The event was organized within the framework of the European initiatives PACT (Participatory Action for Community Transformation) and Youth Unite, bringing together representatives of local authorities, civil society organizations, migrant and refugee communities, Roma communities, youth workers, young people and active citizens.

Its goal was to bring community and youth voices to the forefront, identify barriers to participation and representation, and explore practical solutions for more open, accessible and inclusive communities.

Marilena Maragkou participated in the panel discussion “Safe and Inclusive Communities for Young People”, alongside Stelios Vellis from The HOME Project and Aggeliki Ntoula from Connect your City, with Charis Kataki moderating the conversation.

The panel explored what a safe and inclusive community means for young people in practice and how organizations can move beyond simply inviting young people to participate towards creating the conditions for meaningful involvement.

For Youthmakers Hub, a sense of belonging is strengthened when young people have the opportunity to contribute, create and take ownership alongside others. Non-formal education and participatory approaches can provide spaces where young people develop skills, build connections and become active contributors to their communities.

Initiatives such as this create valuable spaces for organizations, professionals, communities and young people to exchange experiences and turn dialogue into practical action.

We thank KMOP for the invitation and organization, as well as The HOME Project, IASIS NGO, the fellow speakers and all participants for contributing to this important conversation.