Follow Greece Immigration and Life in Greece: Mary Karantza, a 33-year-old designer from Greece, co-founded the non-governmental organization "Imagine the City" with 26-year-old Stephania Xydia. The organization is dedicated to improving the functioning of cities and villages and encouraging public participation in civic issues.
Xydia stated: "In Greece, there are no courses on how to build public life. For a long time, the government has treated the people like children, and the people have become accustomed to this." Through "Imagine the City," people can monitor government operations, and civic movements with various objectives have gradually developed. For example, Roumeliotis, an unemployed former ERT radio host, set up an online platform to help people locate second-hand shops and places providing free food on Google Maps; doctors provide free consultations and treatment to patients; and citizens have organized groups to monitor government public construction projects.
"Imagine the City" once implemented a project calling on netizens to install 200 light bulbs on a street in Athens. This activity received a great response. The street has since been revitalized, with new storefronts gradually opening, students returning, and even weekly parties being held.
When the European debt crisis hit Greece, many young people wanted to flee. Karantza said: "There are still many opportunities for change here; we cannot leave."