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 Problem With Empowerment – And What To Do Instead
Why “giving people power” often backfires, and what agency-centred practice offers instead The word empowerment is everywhere.We talk about empowering young people, empowering communities, empowering staff, empowering “the vulnerable.” Empower everyone. But if we look closely, empowerment often carries an unintended message:that we hold all the power,and they have none until we decide to hand
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🌿 Appreciative Inquiry: Asking What’s Strong to Inspire What’s Possible
In youth and community development work, the questions we ask shape the worlds we create. Developed at Case Western Reserve University, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) offers a strength-based alternative to traditional problem-solving approaches.Instead of asking “What’s wrong, and how do we fix it?” AI begins with “What’s working, what gives life, and what could be?” It’s
“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 