The project “Thessaloniki Youth Resilience Challenge” (2016–2018) focused on the concept of the “resilient city,” referring to a city capable of responding to crises while maintaining its social cohesion and sustainability. Through a structured dialogue process, the project aimed to actively involve young people in shaping Thessaloniki as a resilient city, strengthening their role in decision-making.
The initiative brought together youth organizations, civil society actors, and local authorities, creating an open platform for collaboration and exchange. Particular emphasis was placed on youth representation and empowerment, enabling young people to contribute meaningfully to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the process.
A total of 255 participants, including 53 young people with fewer opportunities, took part in the dialogue, addressing key urban challenges such as infrastructure, unemployment, economic changes, crisis management (e.g., earthquakes), migration, and political developments. Through group work and exchange of perspectives, participants developed ideas and proposals to improve the quality of life in the city.
The project was based on European best practices in structured dialogue, promoting long-term cooperation between youth and institutional stakeholders. Overall, it contributed to strengthening participatory democracy and integrating young people’s voices into urban planning and public policy.