My name is Maria Batzoli, and I am a graduate student in Business Law at the University of Sorbonne (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), where I also completed my undergraduate studies in Law. I have gained international experience through internships at organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris and the United Nations in Geneva, focusing on international cooperation and institutional dialogue. As a Student Ambassador for Una Europa at the Sorbonne and as a Greek Youth Diaspora Ambassador for the Hellenic Republic, I am actively working on strengthening academic collaboration and the institutional representation of young Greeks in the diaspora. I deeply believe that young people are not merely the future, but the present of public discourse—they are the ones who give direction, meaning, and momentum to the world that is taking shape.
After four years in France, I became convinced that young Greeks in the diaspora deserve their own space—a vibrant platform for connection, support, and action that empowers and gives a voice to our generation. This is how the Société Académique et Professionnelle de la Jeunesse Hellénique en France was born, and I am particularly happy that, together with Triantafyllos, Fanis, Garifalia, Ermioni, Yiannis, Markos, Ioanna, Christos, Konstantinos, and Zinovia, we are contributing to the creation of a dynamic community for the Greek youth diaspora in France—an idea that is now taking shape.
My name is Theofanis Kotsonis, and I have always believed in the power of communities. I am an economist (MSc.), political scientist (BA), and a young researcher. I graduated with honors from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. I continued with graduate studies in Economics, as a scholarship recipient, first at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Master 1) and then at the University of Paris-Saclay (Master 2). At a young age, I had the honor of representing Greece at the European Student Parliaments on Science (Manchester, ESOF), following a selection process based on research and a presentation. I have participated in international programs (CIVIS, Universität Tübingen), in numerous volunteer projects, and have been awarded prizes for public speaking. I have worked, among other places, at the Institute of International Economic Relations (IIER) and on the European Jean Monnet Module program (2023–2025, European Commission & National and Kapodistrian University of Athens). Currently, I work as a remote research assistant at the University of Athens, while at the same time, I write articles and blog on issues of public policy and political economy, focusing on the role of Greece within Europe. Along with an exceptional group of young people, we founded SAPJH with the aim of organizing and supporting the Greek diaspora youth, whose numbers have been steadily growing since the crisis, both in Paris and throughout France. Our vision is to create a network to address common needs and bring shared ideas to life through scholarly, critical, and engaging events and initiatives.
I am a Joint PhD Researcher in Communication Sciences and Teaching Fellow in Strategic Communication and Online Discourse Analysis at CY Cergy Paris University. My academic background includes a BA in International Relations from the University of Piraeus and an MSc in Geopolitics and International Security from the University of Athens. My academic journey continued in Belgium, where I earned an MSc in Conflict and Development Studies from Ghent University. Since 2023, I have been pursuing my Joint PhD with Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca under the auspices of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance. In my doctoral research, I investigate the impact of digital media on the perception of migration-related news among refugee communities within the EU. From a professional standpoint, I have served as a Consultant at the OECD, focusing on international migration and education policy. Through my involvement with SAPJH, I am dedicated to strengthening the ties between the Hellenic diaspora in France and our homeland, while spearheading a strategic mentoring program for students and young professionals.
I am a graduate of the Department of History and Politics at the University of Westminster, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po in Paris. My passions are philosophy and cinema. In my free time, I engage with literature while also participating in volunteer initiatives to combat homelessness on a local level. I see SAPJH not merely as an association, but as a bridge that carries the Greek spirit across borders, uniting the Greek diaspora in France with Greece.
Garifalia Karapidaki is a graduate student in Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne University in Paris. She graduated first in her class from the Department of Education at the University of the Aegean with honors during the 2022–23 academic year. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she received scholarships from the State Scholarships Foundation (Greece) and the French Institute of Greece, the Union of Greek Shipowners, and the Stamatis Foundation. She is a founding member of SAPJH and serves as Second Secretary of the Board of Directors. With a strong focus on excellence and collaboration, she plays an active role in developing and supporting the association’s initiatives related to culture and the strengthening of Greek-French relations. At the same time, she contributes creatively to the field of communication by leveraging her experience in creating digital materials and content for platforms and media, actively supporting the team’s vision.
My name is Yannis Voskidis; I am a graduate student at Sciences Po specializing in energy transition and a graduate of the College of Europe, with a focus on the Western Balkans. My interests focus on energy, sustainability, and European politics, with a particular emphasis on Southeast Europe. The Société Académique et Professionnelle de la Jeunesse Hellénique en France is something that was truly missing in Paris, despite the significant presence of Greek youth, and that is why I am particularly happy to be a part of it. I believe it will contribute significantly to the creation of a vibrant, mutually supportive community, and I look forward to helping organize events that will highlight the scientific and academic work of Greeks in Paris.
I come from Athens, where I completed my undergraduate studies at Panteion University. For the past year, I have been pursuing my master’s degree in Economic Law at Sciences Po in Paris, focusing on New Technologies Law and Intellectual Property. As a first-time resident of France, the community of Greek students in Paris has been a true source of support, helping me adapt and connect with other young Greeks in France. Through SAPJH, this community is gaining structure and a stable presence for the first time, with the aim of providing a “space” for culture, personal and collective development, and solidarity, open to all.
My name is Zinovia Tzitzoglaki, and I am a graduate student at Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), specializing in Real Estate Law. I graduated in 2025 from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and I am currently a trainee attorney with the Athens Bar Association, with experience at law firms in Athens and the Cyclades. My goal is to become a lawyer with a broad and cross-systemic perspective, through exposure to both the Greek and French legal frameworks, with an emphasis on the substantive alignment of the law with the needs of society.
For me, SAPJH is not just a network, but a meeting ground for people with a shared vision—a space where ideas take shape and relationships gain perspective. Through its activities, I seek to contribute in creating an environment that facilitates the first steps and provides meaningful direction for young people in France.
I’m originally from Rhodes, and I’ve been living in Paris for the past three years—a city that has given me the opportunity to grow, dream, and create. I studied Early Childhood Education and completed a master’s degree in Educational Administration, deeply believing in the power of education and community. Through my work with social media and communication, as well as my participation on the board of the Greek Community of Paris and Surrounding Areas, my goal is to bring people closer together. For me, SAPJH represents a crucial step toward creating a dynamic community of young Greeks in France—a space for networking, culture, inspiration, and collective progress.
My name is Ermioni, I’m a medical school graduate, and I came to Paris to combine clinical practice with research. As young people, I believe that now more than ever—due to constant developments across the board—we need opportunities to meet, discuss, agree, and disagree on current issues, socially, culturally, and academically. That is why I decided to participate in the creation of SAJPH, as a response to this need.
My name is Konstantinos, and I am pursuing a master’s degree in European Affairs at Sciences Po Paris. I am a graduate of the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation, and Interpretation at the Ionian University, specializing in legal, political, economic, and technical translation, with French and English as my working languages. I have developed a particular interest in foreign languages and international relations, specifically in the role of Greece within Europe and of Europe in the world. For this reason, I have completed internships at the French Institute of Greece as part of a Cultural Cooperation program during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and at the Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO in Paris.
I see SAPJH as a particularly important initiative for uniting Greeks in Paris and France, promoting Greece and our culture, strengthening networking, and creating a vibrant space for dialogue. At the same time, it can serve as a hub for events, collaborations, new opportunities, and meaningful engagement with Greek issues.
