Photographs and information are reproduced from the detailed report by Thesnewsline.gr, the event’s official media sponsor — You can read its full feature, with rich audiovisual material, here.
Intro: SAPJH is a newly established, independent and non-profit academic and professional association, founded in 2026, based in Paris and with a presence through liaisons in three further French cities (Lyon, Lille, Montpellier). The Association was created by eleven young Greek men and women in France, under the French law of 1901: Maria Batzoli, Theofanis Kotsonis, Triantafyllos Gkaragkanis, Christos Bougas, Garifalia Karapidaki, Yannis Voskidis, Markos Zouzounis, Zinovia Tzitzoglaki, Ioanna Pernari, Ermioni Petkou and Konstantinos Gkoumas. They are students, researchers and young professionals active in universities and in research and professional environments in France, sharing a common goal: to create a stable space for networking, dialogue and cooperation for the Greek youth diaspora. Today, our network numbers hundreds of members and is one of the fastest-growing in the Greek diaspora, both across Europe and internationally.
On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, at the Maison de la Grèce (the Greek House) in Paris, the Société held its first public event, titled “Between Greece and France: Prospects and challenges for the young people of the diaspora”, marking SAPJH’s first official introduction to the public. The association’s vision, values, structure and main lines of action were presented, with an emphasis on the need to create an independent youth organisation, free from party-political, financial or other dependencies.
As announced, SAPJH’s activities will include public discussions, academic events, seminars, workshops, social and cultural initiatives, as well as practical support for young people settling in France to study or work. The Société addresses young women and men of Greek origin — or people connected with Greek culture — aged 18 to 35, who are studying or working in France, with equal focus on Paris and on the country’s other regions. At the same time, older individuals can take part in an advisory capacity, as external contributors and youth mentors, passing on their experience and knowledge to the new generation.
The event opened with the welcome address of SAPJH’s presidency, made up of two young academics: Maria Batzoli, a law graduate and postgraduate student in Business Law at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Theofanis Kotsonis, an economist, political scientist and young researcher, who studied at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a master’s degree in Economics from the universities of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Paris-Saclay. After thanking everyone present for attending, the presidency set out the pillars on which SAPJH was founded, its vision for the association’s future course, and the reasons for young people to take part.
As the co-presidents noted, SAPJH is not subject to any financial, party-political or other dependency, has a non-profit character, and represents the Greek youth of the diaspora in Paris and in France more broadly. Through talks, seminars, workshops, mentoring programmes and social events, it aims to create opportunities for the young academics and professionals of the Greek community. In this context, unique practical guides have already been published on SAPJH’s website, the product of collective voluntary work, covering a range of issues that concern not only newcomers but the Greek youth diaspora in France in general (see: housing, social security, housing benefit, student meals, study scholarships, public transport cards, etc.).
The remaining founding members of SAPJH’s board also took the floor and, in turn, described the path that brought them to Paris and their academic and/or professional careers. The event’s programme was hosted by Ermioni Petkou (doctor, clinical researcher, SAPJH academic affairs officer) and Garifalia Karapidaki (specialist in Comparative Literature, SAPJH Deputy Secretary).
In this context, institutions and organisations sent their own messages greeting the event.
The president of the Greek Community of Paris and Surrounding Areas, Mrs Seta Theodoridou, and vice-president Mrs Marie Roblin welcomed the initiative, underlining the importance of independent expression by the young people of the diaspora. Greetings were also addressed by the president of the Greek-French Academy of Cultural Diplomacy, Georgia Kouvela, as well as by Mrs Morfo Chaviari, president of the students’ committee of the Fondation Hellénique, and Mrs Marilena Michail, representative of the Cypriot Community.
Written greetings were sent by the Permanent Representative of Greece to the OECD, Mr George Pagoulatos, the Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO, Mr Giorgos Koumoutsakos, as well as by Protopresbyter Georgios Vassilakis, director of the Foyer Hellénique, and also a professor and researcher, representing the Holy Metropolis of France.
Video messages were sent by the president of the Greek-French Friendship Group of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Spyros Koulkoudinas, the president of the association “Hellenism in Action” of the Brain Regain initiative, Mr Konstantinos Kesentes, as well as by the vice-president of the Hellenic Community of Northern France, Mr Dimitrios Savvidis. It should be noted that the latter, together with Maria Batzoli, is a Greek Youth Diaspora Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, within the framework of the initiatives of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy aimed at strengthening the connection, cooperation and mutual support of young Greeks in the diaspora.
Finally, as SAPJH’s treasurer noted, in order to be self-sustaining and to continue its work without obstacles, the Société has established a low and highly symbolic annual membership fee of eight euros, so as to cover its fixed and operating needs. Instructions for this procedure are provided to our members after they apply, with full transparency and through SAPJH’s official bank account. As we also make clear, the Société will never refuse to accept a member who meets the requirements, even in the event of financial difficulty, as we remain extremely supportive and flexible.
A special part of the evening was the open discussion with the participants.
A special part of the evening was the open discussion with the participants. Young students, researchers and professionals spoke about their experience in France, the difficulties of settling in, issues of housing, work and administrative procedures, but also about the prospects opened up by academic and professional life in Paris. French students also attended and took part in the discussion. The venue was made available by the Greek consulate, which the organisers thank.
The evening concluded in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere with wine, snacks and sweets, giving those present the chance to continue exchanging views and to get to know one another better. SAPJH’s music and arts team added to the evening with a musical act by historian and musician Dimitris Manariotis (SAPJH cultural affairs coordinator) and Morfo Chaviari (SAPJH member and associate). The event was supported in communications by thesnewsline.com, to which the photographic material also belongs, and with sponsorship of catering products by the Mavrommatis business. This is a Greek hospitality group run by the Mavrommatis brothers in Paris, comprising a fine-dining restaurant, bistros, delicatessens, a wine cellar and catering. The group’s restaurant won a Michelin star in 2018, the first for Greek cuisine in France.
After the successful event, Mrs Batzoli and Mr Kotsonis made the following statement to Chara Agridioti and thesnewsline:
“On behalf of the founding members and the working groups of the Société Académique et Professionnelle de la Jeunesse Hellénique en France, we as the presidency are proud, but also moved, by the massive participation of the youth diaspora in our first introductory event. In a room full of students, professionals and researchers of all levels and disciplines, we presented the vision, values, structure and future activities of the Société. Our event did justice to its theme, ‘Between Greece and France: Prospects and challenges for the young people of the diaspora’, giving the floor directly to young men and women, listening both to their problems and to their interests and proposals. Even we did not expect such large and active participation, with people queuing even outside the room. We were also moved by the participation of our foreign fellow students, from various departments across France, thereby highlighting the value of the Greek-French relationship.”
Media Cover: Major outlets such as Kathimerini, Naftemporiki and Parapolitika have run features on SAPJH, which are posted across all our social media!
SAPJH’s activities are expected to continue from the new academic year, with the aim of strengthening the presence of the new Greek diaspora in France and promoting Greek-French cooperation at the academic, professional and social level.
What are you waiting for? Follow us on all platforms and don’t hesitate to become a member of the Société or to get in touch with us!
