At DCI-Greece, our Youth Advisory Board, known as the Youth Ambassadors cluster, serves as a beacon of advocacy and empowerment for  teenagers and youth. This influential cohort provides critical advice to our organization's Board, conducts peer-to-peer activities, delivers training sessions to children and youth on the move, and leads  advocacy initiatives. Their establishment within DCI-Greece stands as a pivotal milestone, complementing our organizational structures and advocacy efforts. Since 2019, these Ambassadors have embarked on an array of awareness-raising and advocacy activities, influencing decision-making not only at the domestic level but also engaging in youth participation and advocacy at UN level.
 

In recent years, through the “Justice Starts with Us” project, the cluster has evolved and taken center stage, empowering children and young people involved with the Greek asylum and justice systems either as victims or witnesses of violence or in conflict with the law. The initiative creates safe and inclusive spaces where participants connect, share experiences, and rebuild trust through creative and participatory activities. They learn about their rights and the principles of child-friendly justice, developing skills in communication, collaboration, while experiencing acceptance, recognition, and confidence-building.

 

Through mentoring circles, youth labs, and creative workshops, participants turn dialogue into action and lived experience into knowledge and advocacy. Using Theatre — they explore realities, express challenges, and co-create messages for change. Theatre and music become their channels for expression and dialogue, allowing them to transform their stories into creative proposals shared with authorities, stakeholders, and the wider community.

 

Building on the Young Ambassadors cluster within DCI-Greece, the project equips young people with tools, voice, and confidence to act as ambassadors of change — shaping ideas, influencing decisions, and contributing to a fairer, more humane justice system.

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Through these immersive methods, participants actively engage in matters concerning them, shaping ideas, rehearsing realities, and crafting advocacy material for presentation before Authorities, Key Stakeholders, and the wider community.

Each year, our Ambassadors present their key messages to EU policymakers, academics, and representatives at the European Commission — as well as at international and United Nations forums — showcasing their commitment to building a fair, humane and inclusive system for children.