FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Greece
Address
Athens, GreeceCountry
City
AthensMobile Phone
+306978522149Telephone
+30 6978522149Telephone (other)
+30 6983306053E-Mail (2)
theodoravoun@gmail.comE-Mail (3)
anniakorneeva@gmail.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2022Contact Person1
Theodora VounidiJob Title 1
Co-founderContact Person 2
Annia KorneevaJob Title 2
co-founderOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Heritage, International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
Balkan Youth Cooperation (BYC) is a youth-led, non-profit initiative founded in 2022 by two young women balkanologists. Based in Athens, Greece, and supported by a growing network of collaborators across Southeast Europe, BYC aims to strengthen youth cooperation, inclusive regional dialogue, and intercultural understanding in the Balkans.
Rooted in gender equality and ethical collaboration, the organisation operates through a horizontal structure that promotes active participation and co-creation. Its work focuses on empowering young people to engage with the region’s cultural heritage, advocate for civic and democratic values, and build bridges across communities historically divided by conflict or misunderstanding.
BYC’s main areas of focus include regional youth advocacy, participatory research, cultural memory, and the promotion of European values such as solidarity, diversity, and respect for human rights. It supports projects that amplify underrepresented voices and foster a sense of shared ownership over the Balkans' diverse past and future.
The organisation is funded through project-based grants from foundations and institutions working in the field of Balkan studies and regional cooperation, as well as through voluntary contributions.
Mission and Objectives
Mission:
The mission of Balkan Youth Cooperation (BYC) is to foster a new culture of regional cooperation, rooted in mutual understanding, inclusion, and youth empowerment across Southeast Europe. BYC believes that young people are essential actors in shaping the Balkans’ future—not only as leaders of tomorrow but as active participants today. The initiative seeks to create spaces where youth can explore their shared and diverse identities, challenge inherited divisions, and contribute to a peaceful, democratic, and culturally rich region.
By combining research, civic participation, and advocacy, BYC promotes a holistic approach to regional dialogue, cultural heritage, and social justice, grounded in European values such as equality, solidarity, and respect for human dignity.
Objectives:
To promote youth cooperation across borders
BYC is trying to facilitate transnational projects and partnerships that bring together young people from different Balkan countries, encouraging intercultural learning, dialogue, and collaboration.
To advocate for gender equality and inclusive participation
Founded by two young women, BYC places gender justice and the fair representation of marginalised voices at the core of its structure and activities.
To foster ethical and participatory regional dialogue
The organisation is committed to cultivating respectful, bottom-up forms of engagement that challenge dominant narratives and promote the inclusion of the “Other.”
To support the study and dissemination of Balkan cultural heritage
Through participatory research, storytelling, and community-based initiatives, BYC highlights the region’s diverse cultural legacies and their relevance for contemporary society.
To empower young people as active citizens and changemakers
BYC offers tools, platforms, and mentorship for youth to develop their capacities in civic engagement, policy influence, and local activism.
To uphold and promote European values
All BYC activities are inspired by the principles of democracy, human rights, intercultural dialogue, and peaceful cooperation as defined in the European framework.
Main Projects / Activities
At the heart of BYC’s work lies a commitment to meaningful, youth-led engagement across the Balkans through educational, policy-oriented, and participatory initiatives. Our main activities reflect our mission to empower young people, foster inclusive dialogue, and strengthen regional cooperation. Among them:
Research Methodology Seminars in Southeast European Studies
One of BYC’s flagship projects is a long-standing series of seminars dedicated to research methodology in Southeast European Studies. This institutionalised initiative has already trained dozens of young scholars and professionals from diverse academic fields in how to approach the Balkans as both a subject of research and a lived, complex space. The seminars aim to promote critical thinking, interdisciplinary methods, and ethical engagement with regional realities, while offering participants tools to challenge simplistic or monolithic narratives.
“Benefits of Being in the European Family” – A Youth Dialogue on European Identity
In May 2025, BYC co-founder Annia Korneeva hosted a roundtable discussion at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens, entitled “Benefits of Being in the European Family.”
The event gathered young people from Eastern and Southeastern Europe to share their personal and political reflections on the long journey toward European identity and what belonging to the “European family” truly means to them.
Together with expert speakers, participants explored how youth engagement, civic identity, and European values intersect in various fields—education, activism, policy, and everyday life.
Following the roundtable, co-founder Theodora Vounidi contributed to a televised discussion on the same topic, produced by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece and moderated by journalist Maria Anastasopoulou, highlighting youth perspectives on European integration and democratic belonging.
Youth Climate Diplomacy Forum in Southeast Europe (SEE)
BYC proudly serves as a member and our co-founder as leader within the Youth Climate Diplomacy Forum in Southeast Europe a project operates under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair for Climate Diplomacy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).—a cross-border platform bringing together youth advocates working on climate action and foreign policy across the Balkans.
In our leadership role, we have initiated training sessions for Balkan youth councils, focusing on practical tools for finding partners, building sustainable networks, and participating in transnational climate diplomacy.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
At Balkan Youth Cooperation (BYC), we are ready to contribute to the Network in Greece by activating our strong partnerships and unique regional perspective to foster cross-border cooperation and empower young people across Southeast Europe.
Leveraging strong partnerships
We maintain solid collaborations with academic institutions, youth organisations, cultural foundations, and civic actors in Greece and the wider Balkan region. These partnerships will be mobilised to promote the Network’s goals and enhance its visibility and impact at the national and regional level.
Offering training and expertise
With hands-on experience in both academic and grassroots contexts, BYC brings valuable expertise in two core areas:
Research methodology, especially in Southeast European Studies, where we have already trained dozens of young scholars and students.
Youth advocacy, with a focus on democratic participation, civic voice, and European values.
Our capacity to design and deliver educational content allows us to support youth engagement with both analytical tools and advocacy strategies.
Positioning Greece as a regional hub
Our goal is to make Greece a bridge-builder in the region—a dynamic hub for youth dialogue, cooperation, and innovation in the Balkans. By connecting local efforts to broader European agendas, we aim to turn Greece into a key platform for transnational collaboration and long-term regional partnerships.
Through these contributions, BYC is committed to strengthening the Network’s presence in Greece while actively promoting its vision across borders.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
At Balkan Youth Cooperation (BYC), we believe that joining the Anna Lindh Foundation Network is a unique opportunity to strengthen our mission of inclusive regional cooperation and intercultural understanding in Southeast Europe. The ALF Network represents a vibrant community of like-minded organisations working across the Euro-Mediterranean region, and we are eager to be part of this collective effort.
Through the Network, we hope to:
-Amplify our advocacy for youth participation and democratic values;
-Exchange best practices with other civil society actors on issues of intercultural dialogue, cultural heritage, and peacebuilding;
-Promote our research-based and participatory approach to cross-border cooperation;
-Build new synergies that will allow us to expand our impact and reach wider audiences.
We are particularly aligned with ALF’s focus on intercultural learning and the role of civil society in fostering respect for diversity. As a youth-led organization working in a region marked by historical divisions, we see this Network as a space where dialogue becomes a tool for transformation, and shared values can become a force for change.