They defended their land and its agricultural identity and tradition. They protected public artworks in their city. They shared flowers and messages of kindness with their neighborhood and transformed their schoolyard into a more welcoming space. Looking to the past, they explored ways to strengthen justice in the present.
These were some of the inspiring stories shared by students from across Greece during the National Celebration 2026 of Design for Change Greece, where children came together to present their journeys of change and inspire one another.
From the islands of Naxos and Mykonos to Delphi and Thessaloniki, children from kindergarten, primary, secondary and high schools participated in this special online celebration, showcasing the challenges they identified, the solutions they imagined and the actions they took to create positive change in their communities.
As part of the celebration, the five stories from Greece that will be presented at the Be The Change Global Celebration 2026 of Design For Change were announced. Taking place in Athens on 26–29 November 2026, the global celebration will bring together young changemakers from different parts of the world.
The selected stories are:
- “Children Protect the Art of Their City” by Arsakeio Primary School of Thessaloniki
- “Project404: Error in Justice” – The parody trial of Theramenes as a warning for the digital age by Kryoneri General Lyceum
- “Small Acts of Kindness” by 3rd Primary School of Sykees
- “Coaches of the Ancient Theatre of Delphi” by Delphi Primary School
- “The Naxos Potato: Students Defend Their Land” by Vivlos Primary School of Naxos
Design for Change Greece: A celebration of dreams and purpose
A highlight of the event was the participation of Adrianos Golemis, Astronaut in Training, Collaborator at the Hellenic Space Centre and Lead Flight Surgeon at MEDES for ESA, who joined the celebration live from Cologne. Through his personal journey, he shared how dreams can become reality when nurtured with purpose and perseverance. His message connected beautifully with the four Design for Change steps—Feel, Imagine, Do, Share—encouraging children to trust their ideas and believe in their ability to create meaningful change.
The celebration also introduced a collaborative online drawing platform, where children could draw, write and express their thoughts simultaneously, transforming the digital space into a shared canvas of creativity. Following a presentation by Alexandra Mitsotaki, President and Co-Founder of the World Human Forum, on the Delphic Cube and the values that guide it, children explored its six sides through imagination and artistic expression.
We were also honored by the presence of our jury members. Alongside Alexandra Mitsotaki, Maria Papadimitriou—Greek visual artist and Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Thessaly, who has represented Greece in major international exhibitions—and Dr. Fiori–Anastasia Metallinou—Astrophysicist and National Coordinator for the Dissemination of Astronomy for Greece at the International Astronomical Union— offered their encouragement and appreciation to the children, highlighting the importance and impact of their work.
Music, creativity and voices of change
The celebration opened with music, through a Spotify playlist created with songs chosen by the children themselves, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere as participants joined the online gathering.
It concluded with a creative surprise: throughout the months of developing their stories, children were invited to share words, phrases and lyrics inspired by their experiences. These contributions were brought together with the support of Suno AI to create the song “Small Voices, Great Changes”—a celebration of children’s voices and a reflection that every story shared, every idea expressed and every action taken has the power to inspire others and create ripples of change.
The National Celebration 2026 was a powerful reminder that when children are given the opportunity to Feel, Imagine, Do and Share, something meaningful can happen.
We look forward to seeing these young changemakers and their stories shine on the global stage at the Be The Change Global Celebration 2026 in Athens.