OLYMPICEU Project The European Values Olympiad
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s CERV Programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values).
© 2025 Ellino-Italiko Epimelitirio Athina – Project Coordinator of OLYMPICEU.
Concept and Project Design by Paolo A.M. Ferrise - www.eu20.eu
OLYMPICEU
info@olympiceu.eu |
OLYMPICEU | 1st Trasnational Event
Increasing Civic Engagement Among Marginalized Groups
9–12 October 2025
📍 Olympia – Andravida-Killini – Pyrgos – Ancient Olympia (Greece)
EVENT OVERVIEW
The first transnational event of the OLYMPICEU project took place in Ancient Olympia and focused on strengthening civic engagement among marginalized groups. The meeting aimed to identify and overcome the main barriers that prevent citizens such as women, ethnic minorities, young people, the elderly and persons with disabilities from participating actively in civic life.
Through interactive sessions, focus groups and workshops, participants explored strategies to make democratic processes more inclusive and accessible. The event combined both online and offline activities, promoting equal opportunities for digital and physical participation. Training on digital literacy and civic education empowered community representatives to use new participation tools, understand their civic rights and contribute more effectively to local decision-making processes.
A specific part of the programme was devoted to the co-design of inclusive participation platforms, ensuring that the new digital and physical spaces created by the project are accessible, multilingual and user-friendly. Cooperation with local authorities and NGOs from Italy and Greece supported the integration of these tools into real civic processes such as local elections, consultations and policy discussions.
This first event laid the foundations for an open and participatory European community, where marginalized groups are encouraged to engage, express their views and shape the democratic life of their territories.
OBJECTIVES OF THE EVENT
The event aimed to identify and analyse the main barriers limiting civic participation among marginalized groups across local communities.
Particular attention was devoted to empowering citizens and community representatives through civic education activities, digital literacy and inclusive participation tools.
The programme also encouraged cooperation between local authorities, NGOs and community stakeholders in the co-design of accessible and user-friendly participation platforms.
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT
During the four-day programme, participants engaged in a wide range of activities focused on social inclusion, civic participation and democratic engagement.
The programme included thematic workshops, focus groups involving community organisations, youth groups, women’s associations and elderly networks, as well as training sessions dedicated to digital tools for civic engagement and accessible communication.
Participants also took part in co-design meetings for the development of inclusive participation platforms, institutional roundtables between Greek and Italian municipalities and field visits to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and local community centres.
These activities strengthened cross-border cooperation and encouraged active participation across all stakeholder groups.
THEMATIC HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SPEECHES
The institutional speeches delivered during the event highlighted a shared commitment to building more inclusive and participatory communities.
The discussions focused on social inclusion policies aimed at reducing marginalisation, with examples drawn from local services operating in Greek and Italian municipalities.
Particular attention was devoted to gender equality and women’s empowerment, with testimonies from female leaders and social workers addressing barriers to participation and inclusive civic engagement.
The speeches also highlighted the importance of youth participation, digital education and intergenerational learning as tools for strengthening democratic involvement within local communities.
Additional contributions addressed migrant and minority inclusion, intercultural dialogue and the role of European cooperation in developing shared civic participation strategies across borders.
PARTECIPANTS :
The event brought together representatives of municipalities from Italy and Greece, women’s associations, youth groups, community leaders, social workers, educators and local civic actors.
Participants also included elderly organisations, migrant and minority representatives, NGOs and stakeholders actively involved in promoting inclusive participation and democratic engagement within local communities.
KEY RESULTS OF THE EVENT :
The first transnational event strengthened cooperation among partner municipalities from Italy and Greece and contributed to the development of shared approaches to inclusive civic participation.
The activities improved civic and digital competences among participants, encouraged the active involvement of marginalized groups and supported the co-design of accessible participation tools for local communities.
The event also established the operational and thematic foundations for the following project meetings, reinforcing cross-border dialogue and long-term cooperation within the OLYMPICEU framework.
More than 600 participants took part in the activities organised during the four-day programme, confirming the strong engagement of local communities and stakeholders from both countries.
Video Documentation of Institutional Activities: