Join us
The Athenian Youth Academy

Democracy, good goverance and positive transformation

connect, learn, study and exchange
Join the academy
Do you want to become more active in the process of building and defending a social inclusive democracy in your country or region? Do you already have some experience in civil society organisations, in political parties, in trade unions or in innovative commercial ventures with ethical and ‘green’ ambitions? Are you committed to justice and do you want to meet, exchange and learn with other young enthusiasts from different countries and regions?

Then the Athenian Youth Academy might
be the place for you!
Explore our mission
Explore
Do you want to become more active in defending a social inclusive democracy in your country or region?

We are here to engage and support you to participate in civil society and political processes!

Network

Do you want to become a life long member of this profound network?
Read more

Our Activities

Would you like to know what is on offer in our curriculum?
Read more

Our Origin

This is how it all started more than 25 years ago
Read more
Make a donation

Do you feel inspired and motivated to go on an inclusive, harmonious democratic journey?

This initiative is dedicated to address a wide range of critical domains, democracy and good governance, sustainable development, biodiversity and climate change. We aim to proactively engage in the study of future anticipations, preparing you with the knowledge and skills to anticipate and navigate through upcoming global and technological challenges and to empower all of the participants to engage in communities, civil society processes and politics at different levels, to catalyse positive transformations, cultivate sustainable practices and champion harmonious democratic shared societies.
Explore your options

Building your own network for life!

The power of community is one of the pillars of AYA. Not only will you be part of the Symi Network once you have finished your year, but in the meantime you build a very strong relationship with your fellow students. This foundation will support you throughout your personal democratic goals in your own country or region. Friends with the same goals and shared visions you can ask for help, share experiences and compare themes.
Are you excited to join?
Explore

Lets build a better democratic inclusive future together!

  • Build and connect networks
  • Embrace and enhance diversity
  • Engage and empower communities
Contact information

Dit is een voorbeeld tekst. Geen zorgen, dit zal vervangen worden bij de afronding van de website. Zo gauw alle informatie aanwezig is, zal deze voorbeeld tekst vervangen worden door de juiste teksten.

Naam

Dit is een voorbeeld tekst. Geen zorgen, dit zal vervangen worden bij de afronding van de website. Zo gauw alle informatie aanwezig is, zal deze voorbeeld tekst vervangen worden door de juiste teksten.

Naam

Dit is een voorbeeld tekst. Geen zorgen, dit zal vervangen worden bij de afronding van de website. Zo gauw alle informatie aanwezig is, zal deze voorbeeld tekst vervangen worden door de juiste teksten.

Naam

Frequently asked questions

We strongly believe in personal development to make you a better leader, negotiator, problem solver, networker, progressive democrat, ethical responsible player in the field of civil society and politics. We believe in the ripple effect so you can inspire people in your region and be the beacon of democratic light in your country.

Follow the links on the website. This will lead you to an admission track. Once filled out completely this will be sent to us and we will get back to you as soon as possible to see if it fits for you.

No you don’t need to move to Athens. Some modules will be online through Teams or ZOOM. Some modules will be done live on location in Europe, so it might be Greece or the Netherlands and then you have to travel and stay for a week or two.

We are looking for people with some experience in civil society, politics or as an activist. General previous training and schooling helps, awareness, thought and involvement is important. Ages are roughly between 22 and 32.

The program is based on a year (a season) in which all the modules need to be followed and signed off. After that there will be a network of graduates which will keep connected in working towards active and inclusive democracy.

The aim is to enable you to work towards democratic goals in your country/region, also after your graduation. For this it is important to exchange experiences and opinions with your peer group and tutors to learn from each other.

We try to fully cover costs for the modules on location, which means accommodation and food. You might need to pay for travel yourself, but all depends on the individual circumstances. If possible a personal fee might be asked for.

The preparation and homework will cost you 2-4 hours per week. Before online meetings this can be doubled, the live sessions will take a full week or 2 (5 days a week) on location.

Still have a question

Get in contact with us

Latest news

Explore all news
12-06-2024

Step into the Future: The 26th International Symi Symposium June 29 – July 4, 2024 | Samos, Greece

“Prometheus Unbound: Power Re-imagined for a Demos of Peace, Equity and Sustainability” Dear Symi friends, I am delighted to invite you the unique and transformative 26th International Symi Symposium. Our Symposium this year is set in the beautiful environment of Greece, in Pythagorion – Samos between June 29th to July 4th, 2024 and we embark on […]

Read article
Make a donation
As an academy for social democracy and justice, we are here to empower and support you in actively participating in civil society and political initiatives!
Contact
Donations
NL90 ABNA 0135 839 874
BIC/SWIFT-code ABANL2A
Menu
Home Organisation Mission Origin Network Activities Donations Contact Join us
More info
Code of Conduct & Complaints About us Donations & Funding
The Athenian Youth Academy is part of the Symi Network   
Copyright 2024 © AYA | Webdesign: Jak Design
Privacy Policy Terms of Service

Marilena Koppa, Board member

Marilena Koppa, PhD, is Professor of Comparative Politics at the Department of European, International and Area Studies of Panteion University and author of several articles on Balkan Politics, minority issues, democratization, nationalism and European Security and Defence.
She is an Athens Law school graduate. She obtained her Ph.D on Comparative Politics at Paris–X Nanterre University (1991). For years she worked as a special adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on issues pertaining to European integration and enlargement.

She has been a member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2014. She was the Coordinator of the S&D Group at the Subcommittee on Security and Defense and also Vice-chairperson of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee..
She has published three books on South-eastern Europe: “A Fragile Democracy: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia between the past and the future” (Papazisis, Athens, 1994), «The minorities in the post-communist Balkans” (Nea Synora-Livanis, Athens, 1997), «The creation of states in the Balkans» (Nea Synora-Livanis, Athens, 1997). Ιn 2017 she published “CSDP: the history, the institutions, the strategies” (Patakis, Athens).

Her latest books are “The Evolution of the Common Security and Defence Policy. Critical Junctures and the quest for the EU’s Strategic Autonomy” (Palgrave McMillan, St Anthony Series, London, 2022), “The Europeanization of the Balkans” (with N. Tzifakis), (Kallipos publishers, 2024 [in Greek]).

James Ray, Board member

James Ray has worked for over fifty years in business, government, and political consulting, He has worked for investment banks and corporate strategy firms in public finance, economic development, international finance, and import-export promotion. He founded and manages a private partnership. He has worked throughout the world, particularly with focus on China, Japan, and the US.

Early in his career he worked for the US House of Representatives, Committee on the Budget. Washington, DC where he was Administrator, Task Force on the Budget Process. Directed hearings and staff studies of multi-year budget planning, federal credit activities, regulatory budget concept, and general oversight of the Budget Act.

Education: Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in Boston Massachusetts 1982. Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Asian Studies from Amherst College, Amherst Massachusetts 1974. He attended Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, and Claremont McKenna College in Claremont California 1969 to 1973.

Henry Boom, Board member

W. Henry Boom MD is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio, USA. For 35+ years he has been involved in Global Health. He has led multidisciplinary US Federal and Gates Foundation funded tuberculosis (TB) clinical and laboratory research studies in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. These studies have made major contributions not only to understanding the human immune response to M. tuberculosis but also on how to better prevent, diagnose and treat TB. His training programs have enabled the training a generation of new infectious diseases investigators and scientists in the US and abroad.

If you need more specifics/detail, can take from this:

W. Henry Boom MD was raised in the Netherlands, attended SciencesPo in Paris before coming to Amherst College in the USA where he met George Papandreou. Went on the Univ. of Rochester for medical school followed by clinical and research training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in Washington DC and Boston before joining the faculty at Case Western Reserve University in 1988.

Gerd Leipold, Board member

Dr. Gerd Leipold, 73, is the Director of Climate Transparency. Leipold studied physics in Munich and Physical Oceanography at the University of Hamburg. He gained his Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg. His PhD advisor was Prof. Klaus Hasselmann, Nobel Prize winner for physics in 2022.

From 1982 to 1987 he was the director of Greenpeace Germany. From 2001 to 2009 he was the Executive Director of Greenpeace International.

He leads Climate Transparency, a global partnership of 16 organisations from 14 countries. Climate Transparency compares the climate action of the G20 countries.

He is Chair of the Board of the University of Applied Science, Biberach, a trustee of the Humboldt – Viadrina School of Governance and a member of the advisory board of the German development organization Welthungerhilfe.

Katarina Sinadinovska, Board member

Katerina Sinadinovska obtained degree in journalism from the St.Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje in 2008. She is currently the assistant – editor in chief of Kapital, a weekly business and political magazine for which she has been working since 2010. She is also an author and editor of the TV project “Agenda 35” broadcasted on the national public television, an educational program about the reforms that will have to be adopted during the negotiation process with the EU.

Before joining Kapital, Katerina worked as a journalist for two TV stations in Skopje – “Kanal 5” and “Alfa TV”. Earlier, from 2004 to 2006 she worked as a journalist in the newspaper Vecer.

In 2015, Katerina was one of the founders of the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia and elected as a President of the Managing Board. In March 2018, Katerina was re-elected and given a new mandate to run the organization for the next four years.

Katerina Sinadinovska has contributed to professional trainings and conferences on media freedom, media ethics and literacy, and political and economic influence in the media sector, both in the country and abroad.

Sylvia Borren, CFO

Sylvia Borren (20-09-1950) worked all her life within and for civil society organisations, both professionally and as a volunteer.

She volunteered many years for the Dutch and global LGBTI+ and feminist movements.

She worked 5 years as project leader in Health Education, then spent nine years as an organisational consultant/trainer at De Beuk. She served on two Dutch National Government advisory committees (the national Youth Council, and the Advisory Council of International Affairs), sat on the supervisory board of a large mental health institution (Altrecht), co-chaired the Worldconnectors (a Dutch think tank), and led the 'Quality Educators for All' project for the global union ‘Education International’.

Sylvia Borren was and is part of the global anti-poverty movement as director of Oxfam Novib 1994-2008, and co-chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty. She is now vice-chair of BRAC International, the Bangladeshi development organization.

She was director of Greenpeace Netherlands 2011- 2016, where she helped negotiate the national SER Energy Agreement, and initiated 'The Questionmark', a research organisation that assesses individual food products and supermarkets for environmental footprint, animal welfare, health and workers' rights.

Sylvia Borren is now self-employed ('Working for Justice') and senior strategist for ‘Governance & Integrity’, a company that strengthens integrity systems within government-, health-, education- and civil society organisations.

She is presently chair of the Symi Network Foundation.

Robert van Veen, CFO

Robert van Veen, CFO/COO (Chief Finance Officer and Chief Operations Officer) has the following responsibilities:

  • Ensures an integrated approach to financial and operational management, fitting the organizational development of this Symi Network start-up.

  • Is responsible (with the CEO in the Management Board) for fundraising, financial administration, quality proposals, cost-management and full reporting and accountability processes.

  • Is responsible for the workings of the Integrity System, and timeliness and effectiveness of the internal governance- and external accountability processes.

Robert is an interim manager with an open character and a relentlessly positive and critical mindset. He works from strategic objectives that he translates into pragmatic solutions. In changing environments, Robert is able to bridge the gap between management and the rest of the organization. He leads as a people manager where transparency is key. In addition, Robert has been an enthusiastic firefighter volunteer for almost 30 years and spends a lot of time outdoors hiking or training for triathlons.

Quote #Thisisme

“Supporting people is in my DNA. Hands on as a volunteer at the fire brigade to creating a pleasant working environment where operations and especially finance and reporting are well organized. At the same time keeping my eyes on the world around me. Every little step counts and has an impact in making a positive change to our planet.

Pepé Soomers, 59, CEO

Pepe Soomers, the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), has the following responsibilities:

  • As Strategic Leader develops evidence based-, forward-looking strategies relevant in fast-moving and complex changing civil and political contexts. Develops the Symi Network start-up with organizational courage, compassion, influence and authority. Develops a culture of quality, safety, experimentation, and learning.

  • As Cultural leader ‘lives’ the values and code of conduct of the Symi foundation, is caring and accountable, cultivates relevant collaborative relationships and networks and drives action through authority and sound judgement.

Specific responsibilities as part of the Management Board are:

- Executive leadership and organizational management
- Organizational development and fundraising
- External relations and communications
- Financial and overall accountability
- Integrity and Board governance.

Pepé (Peter-Paul) has worked in the field of psychology and personal development for many years. He has an innate interest in humans and their behaviour. He is also an Neuro Linguistic Master, an Enneagram Master, a Journey therapy Master and Conscious Coach. In his private
practice he coaches people from all walks of life. He has been in the seminar business for many years, teaching personal development skills, personal leadership and communication.

He has been working as a Television Director and Producer for many years after finishing an education in ENG and Studio direction. Again he was mostly interested in the human behaviour traveling the world to interview people from all walks of life. He has made more than 25 Human Interest TV shows and documentaries.

He has also written cookbooks, theater plays and is a very enthusiastic goldsmith and creates bespoke handmade jewellery.