Interview with the Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Mr. Yannis Chrysoulakis
The actions and support of the government to the Greek expatriates is described in an interview with grtraveller by the Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Mr. Yannis Chrysoulakis, stressing the importance of the Greek Diaspora as a carrier and custodian of our cultural heritage in the far corners of the world.
- What are the actions of the General Secretariat for Hellenes Abroad and Public Diplomacy for the development, maintenance and strengthening of relations between expatriates and the motherland?
The General Secretariat for Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy (GSADD) has the institutional role of a “bridge of communication” with the Greeks of the Diaspora, as a body of understanding and mediation with the Greek State. A constant aim of our activities is to maintain and strengthen links with the Diaspora around the world.
I will briefly mention some of the actions, such as the multifaceted and practical support of the expatriate organizations and their activities, the support of Greek-language education abroad at all levels, including the Chairs of Modern Greek Studies and the Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, the organization of summer programmes for the learning of the Greek language in cooperation with University Institutions, the granting of scholarships, the organization of competitions on themes of Greek culture and history, the honorary awarding of homogeneities, the organization of scientific conferences, workshops and other events of great importance.
“…the new generation of homogenous people is a subject that touches and motivates me very much”
Since the young generation of the Homogeneous is a subject that touches and motivates me particularly, I will focus on the re-launch, this summer, of the hospitality programmes for young Homogeneous, which aim to acquaint, reconnect and familiarise them with the place of origin of their ancestors, with their roots and to strengthen their national identity.
- Is there interest from private initiative, both within and outside Greece, to support similar actions for “bonding” with the Diaspora and how is it supported by the General Secretariat (e.g. subsidised programmes, funding, etc.)?
The GGADD joins forces and cooperates with a number of public and private entities, both in Greece and abroad, with a common vision and a common vision regarding our historical and cultural capital, the love for Greece and the support of our expatriate compatriots. I will refer to two particularly fruitful collaborations.
In 2021, the year of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Palingenesis, the GGADD concluded a Memorandum of Cooperation with Piraeus Bank and in close cooperation with the “Greece 21” Committee and reputable university, research and cultural institutions, provided all expatriate institutions with rich digitized anniversary material, the expatriate media, the schools and libraries of the expatriate community, the Diplomatic Authorities abroad, and the Offices of Public Diplomacy, in order to organize on-site events and celebrate the magnificent anniversary in the most appropriate way.
I would also note our fruitful collaboration with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which is funding the StaEllinika free digital platform initiative and is the fruit of a collaboration between the GGADD and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
- You talked about the new features of the online platform for learning Greek, Staellinika.com. Tell us a few words about this platform and what is its impact?
Of particular importance for the Greek-speaking community is the preservation and strengthening of Greek-language education, as the Greek language is the unbreakable bond with Mother Greece, the indissoluble link with the Homeland.
The creation of the digital platform Staellinika.com is indeed an important tool for learning the Greek language. It is an innovative action to support Greek schools abroad and to spread the Greek language and culture throughout the world, both to our young Greek and Greek-speaking people and to Philhellenes. Today the application, in its full version, is accessible on all operating systems and is able to support a large number of stakeholders. Already, registered daily users in around 160 countries have exceeded 40 thousand and more than 2 million visitors have been recorded. The platform has been introduced in all Greek schools in North America and the UK. Recently it has been enriched with lessons in Greek mythology. Also, the Spanish and Portuguese version for our Latin American expatriates is already ready and will be presented in October.
- How does the General Secretariat support and facilitate expatriates to visit and/or return to our country?
As I constantly inform our young expatriate scientists abroad, by attracting investment and empowering young workers, thanks to the government’s policies, the brain drain has now started to reverse and evolve into a brain gain, as the country’s steady positive trend reinforces the sense of confidence that has been created in recent years.
Moreover, we promote networking between renowned expatriate scientists, researchers and academics in order to establish channels of communication and bridges of cooperation both between them and with the Motherland. I mention, for example, the organization of conferences, such as, in the summer, the 1st World Pan-Homogeneous Medical Conference in Thessaloniki, in collaboration with the Aristotle University. Connecting Greece to knowledge-based environments reintegrates young people of Greek origin into the domestic human capital on the one hand and, on the other hand, contributes to creating the conditions that will allow their return.
In addition, the GGADD supports the promotion and promotion of Greece as a major destination for university studies, with high quality programmes in education, research and innovation that can be used by our Greek and foreign students. In this context, the GSADD supports the operation of the web portal Study in Greece for the promotion of the international outreach of the English-language programmes of study of Greek Universities.
- Are expatriates the ambassadors of our country and what is their role in its diplomatic work?
Public Diplomacy and Hellenism Abroad are two complementary policy areas that share the same outward-looking aspect and the same operational planning for the promotion of the country abroad. Greeks in the Diaspora are a significant factor in the country’s strength, they already play an active role in promoting Greek positions before international public opinion, but at the same time they also act as a factor of friendship and solidarity with their countries of residence.
Moreover, the Greek Diaspora is an important lever of Cultural Diplomacy and contributes positively to nation branding. It is the carrier and custodian of our unique cultural heritage, which it makes known to the ends of the earth. It is the heart, the presence and the voice of Greece in the world. At the same time, it shapes the contemporary narrative of the country and projects a positive national image in international public opinion, as our expatriates, wherever they are, have gained appreciation, recognition and influence in local communities through their presence and work.
In addition, we particularly appreciate the dynamic presence of the Greek Diaspora, its contribution and the initiatives it undertakes in support of the Motherland. In particular, its interest in the development of our national issues and the upgrading of our country’s position on the international stage is evident. In this context, I would also like to note our close cooperation with expatriate parliamentarians and elected officials of local government, for the promotion of the cultural and democratic values of Hellenism.
