The Helios+ Centre of YMCA Thessaloniki organised the third Social Cohesion Activity on Saturday, 7 March 2026, titled “Cineforum – Living Together: Integration, Diversity and Everyday Coexistence”, with the aim of strengthening dialogue and interaction between programme beneficiaries and members of the local community.

The event took place at the Helios+ Centre of YMCA Thessaloniki premises and brought together 25 participants from different countries and cultural backgrounds, including programme beneficiaries as well as members of the local community. The multicultural composition of the group contributed to a particularly rich and meaningful intercultural dialogue.

The event began with a welcome session and a brief presentation of the organisation and the objectives of the HELIOS+ project. This was followed by interactive ice-breaking activities and group games, such as “Two Truths and a Lie”, which helped participants get to know each other better and discover common elements despite their different backgrounds.

Before the film screening, a guided discussion was held around issues such as stereotypes, prejudice, the role of religion in contemporary societies, and the concept of integration. Participants shared personal experiences and perspectives, creating an open and respectful environment for dialogue.

The film that was screened addressed themes related to cultural diversity, stereotypes, and coexistence. After the screening, a group reflection followed, during which participants discussed how these issues appear in everyday life and shared thoughts about the experience of intercultural coexistence.

The activity concluded with a collective moment of reflection on the concept of diversity and how it affects our daily lives.

The Cineforum proved to be a highly successful social cohesion activity, strengthening mutual understanding, empathy, and the exchange of experiences among people from different cultural and social backgrounds. At the same time, it contributed to the creation of a safe space for dialogue, where participants felt comfortable expressing their views and personal experiences.

The Helios+ Project is implemented in cooperation with IOM Greece and funded by ΕΣΠΑ through ΕΥΣΥΔ – ΜΕΥ of Ministry of Migration and Asylum (Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης & Ασύλου) and with the co-financing of the European Union.