Igniting strengths, stories and connection
to help young people, communities and organisations thrive
Where imagination meets purpose, and stories and communities come alive.
Soulgen is a creative social enterprise led by Dimitrios Papalexis and team, dedicated to strengthening young people, communities, and organisations through participatory learning, storytelling, and strengths-based facilitation.
We design experiences that build trust, inclusion, and collective action – from youth-led projects and co-design workshops to game-based learning and social innovation.
At the heart of Soulgen is a belief that real change starts with relationships: people discovering their gifts, connecting with others, and shaping the systems they live in.
Gamified and experiential workshops
- Hands-on, story-driven workshops that spark creativity, build confidence and turn ideas into action.
- Using creative tools such as the Camp Venture board game, participants explore leadership, collaboration and community change in playful yet meaningful ways.
Consultation and facilitation
- Soulgen provides creative facilitation and community consultation across youth engagement, multicultural inclusion, social cohesion, health, and co-design initiatives.
- We work alongside organisations and local leaders to design participatory processes that amplify community voices, strengthen collaboration and inspire sustainable action.
Training and capacity building
- Custom sessions for community organisations and educators on Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), place-based approaches, youth participation, and creative leadership.
- Our trainings blend storytelling, reflection, and practical frameworks to help teams turn shared purpose into lasting impact.
Join the campfire
Connect with us for updates, stories, and insights from community development leaders and practitioners – and stay inspired by what’s possible when communities come together.
Watch, read, listen
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The Art of “Pestering”: A Love Letter to Community Builders
There’s an aspect of community building that rarely gets named – let alone celebrated. It’s the quiet, persistent work of inviting people, again and again, even when responses are slow, energy is low, or enthusiasm feels uncertain. I sometimes jokingly call it the art of pestering. Not the kind that pressures or coerces, but the
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🌿 The Real Value of Asset-Based Community Development Training
Why Councils and Community Organisations Keep Calling for ABCD Across councils, youth services, libraries, placemaking teams, neighbourhood centres, and community organisations, one theme has become clear over the last decade: we need approaches that move beyond deficit-based thinking and activate the strengths already present in our communities. That’s where Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) training continues
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How to Naturally Turn Any Project into Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) – Without Forcing It
So many of us work inside systems – councils, NGOs, services, schools, health, and community programs – where projects already come with agendas, KPIs, timelines, templates, and reporting frameworks. And yet… beneath the forms and frameworks, there is something deeply human:✨ People who care✨ Communities with gifts✨ Stories wanting to be heard✨ Possibilities waiting to
“Dimitrios has a genuine passion for working with young people and creating space for them to share and shape their ideas. As an extended part of our team, he supported us in both the development and delivery of Culture Waves, a new youth program focused on building social cohesion. His expertise in sociodrama and participatory facilitation helped us explore and test new ways of engaging with young people.”
Waverley Council
Community Development Team
Soulgen 