The inaugural conference, held in September 2023 in Athens, was attended by 21 people. We were particularly pleased that the participants of the event came from a variety of backgrounds. The majority were students in fields such as psychology, media or archaeology, who are also undertaking gainful employment. The average age ranged from 19 to 28, and the majority of participants were women. Those present also included members of the LGBTQI+ community and people with migrant experience – both those born into Greek immigrant families and those who arrived there at a young age. The conference was held at TangArt – a beautiful and functional venue in the centre of Athens.
The theme of the event was social inclusion, with a particular focus on the topic of immigration in Greece. Members of Embrace All Hub started with a short presentation of their think tank and activities, and conducted inclusive games to get to know the participants better. The programme included interactive workshops, analysis of statistical data and discussions on the social situation in Poland and the Czech Republic, which could take place thanks to the presence of think tank members from these countries.
Think Tank members presented their work and shared their insights on immigration with the other participants. In addition to them, the conference was attended by people associated with our partner organisations.
The event was a success – it was full of interesting discussions and positive energy. Participants not only became better acquainted with the activities of Embrace All Hub, but also showed interest in their projects. The think tank members, on the other hand, gained confidence in public speaking, improved their organisational and communication skills and strengthened relationships within the group.
An additional effect was the broadening of the participants’ perspective – they were able to learn how Poland and the Czech Republic deal with social challenges and the inclusion of immigrants.
