EPIGENIUS

Epigenius - unlocking your potential

Funding Programme

KA220-VET - Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training (KA220-VET)

Duration

01/09/2025-31/10/2027 (26 months)

Budget

250.000 EUR

Project Number

KA220-VET-A9B641A7

Countries

Italy, Greece, Austria, Germany

EPIGENIUS

The EPIGENIUS project aims to strengthen inclusion and self-efficacy among disadvantaged individuals in vocational education and training (VET) by applying innovative insights from epigenetics and neuroplasticity. It promotes a holistic approach that combines science, education, and psychological empowerment, helping people overcome both internal and external barriers that limit their learning, well-being, and personal development.

Through the collaboration of six organisations from Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece, EPIGENIUS develops innovative tools and methods for VET trainers and learners, fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments across Europe.

Personalised educational paths, based on the LifeComp framework, will guide disadvantaged learners – including migrants, refugees, women facing gender inequalities, and individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds – towards increased confidence, resilience, and employability. Trainers and learning guides will receive access to evidence-based exercises and a digital ExperiMENTAL Kit App, which enables users to explore self-efficacy and stress-reduction techniques independently or with professional support.

Furthermore, the project will create a digital methods database and an evaluation tool grounded in epigenetic science, allowing trainers to assess progress, identify needs, and measure impact. By integrating these elements, EPIGENIUS empowers individuals to take an active role in shaping their own lives and learning paths, while promoting a culture of empathy, equality, and continuous growth in VET systems.

 

Finally, through targeted communication channels – including a digital platform, videos, social media campaigns, and public events – EPIGENIUS will raise awareness about the power of epigenetic change in education and its potential to build a more inclusive and resilient European society.

Project Partners
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Eirini Aggeli

PROJECT MANAGER

Eirini has recently completed her MA in Creative Writing, she holds a BA in Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology, and she has a Translation and Interpretation of EU terms Certification in French. She has been a volunteer for environmental programs and she has participated as a leader and/or trainer in 14 Erasmus+ youth exchanges before she chooses the EU project running world as her career path. She loves travelling and she started her career as a cabin crew. So if you ever happen to travel for a project meeting with her you can make sure that you travel safely. She has also worked in an aquarium, developing educational projects for young learners – did you know that Nemo, the clown fish, finds their own anemone at the bottom of the sea and recognises it as their “home”? She has also lived in the Netherlands where she was working as a mobility project manager for French schools, practising her bicycle riding skills in winter conditions. She enjoys buying books – not always reading them, cooking Asian food, walking in Athens in August, discussing philosophical theories with friends and learning new hobbies. She loves her peace, and her headphones and she cannot imagine a life without her Spotify subscription.
(Languages: Greek, English, French, Chinese)

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Fenia Konstantina Kyriakou

RESEARCHER

Fenia holds a BSc in Psychology and a MSc in Clinical and Community Psychology. At a younger age she was living in Athens, but now she resides in Thessaloniki. Volunteering has been in her life for the last three years, in which she has been involved in providing palliative care as a psychologist and also in the context of supporting older people experiencing loneliness. Her favorite season is winter, as she is crazy about the Christmas season. She enjoys spending her weekends with friends playing board games, in which she can become very competitive. Her friends characterize her as a great communicator but they often complain that she talks a lot. Fenia has two cats that she adores even though they often bother her during zoom meetings and important phone calls. She especially likes Asian cuisine and every time she has a hard day, she orders sushi. Fenia is a native Greek speaker and fluent in English. In her spare time, she tries to learn Italian and has recently developed the habit of making candles.

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Victoria Topalidi

Team Leader

Victoria is a BA and MSc holder of International and European studies from University of Piraeus. Since her late school years, she has been an advocate of human rights. Her first contact with the European Union was on her last class of High School when she participated in a Youth Solidarity Day in Brussels. She has worked for International Non-Governmental Organizations and other companies of the private sector, before entering in AKMI International. Victoria speaks Greek (mother tongue), English, French and basic Turkish. She is a passionate traveller and a keen learner of new things. She loves travelling, reading literature – mostly historical fiction and detective stories – and attending theatrical plays. She also enjoys operas, ballet and tango performances as well as escape rooms. During the years, she has developed a great interest in sustainable and accessible fashion and hand-made accessories, especially huts, gloves and jewelery.

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Myrto Siapardani

HEAD OF PROJECTS

Myrto holds a degree in Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Since her early college years, she has volunteered in several youth organizations and she was very interested in exploring new places through mobility activities. She did her six-month Erasmus mobility in Cartagena, Spain. Within her current role as Head of Mobilities, she wishes to provide young people, students and staff members with mobility opportunities and transfer them her vision about becoming a citizen of the world. Her interests lie among Environmental Education, Non-formal Education, Green Skills and Social Media Management. Myrto loves cats and giraffes and her favorite hobby is yoga. She enjoys everything that has to do with food, from cooking and visiting various restaurants to attending seminars and masterclasses and organizing gastro-tourism trips, making her a passionate foodie. She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue), English and Spanish.

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Marilida Tsiplakou

PROJECT MANAGER

Marilida, with a background in Economics, as well as in Leadership and Management, is currently working as a Project Manager of EU Funded Projects. She is a musician and a piano player, with a soft spot for the music of the Romantic Era. As a volunteer, she coordinates the United Nations SDSN Hub of the University of Athens, wishing to raise awareness about the 17 SDG among young people, while also making the Campus more green and sustainable, through simple yet practical solutions. Since the first time she boarded a plane, she became a passionate traveler, having landed on three out of five continents. She loves visiting new places and seeking out new experiences, especially food-related ones, as well as getting to know people from all over the world. She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue), English and French.

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Katerina Michou

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Katerina holds a Bachelor in political science and history from Panteion University. She is currently working as a Project Manager for EU-funded projects at AKMI, and she is also involved with office management. Katerina is fluent in Greek (mother tongue) and English, but you’ll hear her laughing more than talking. In addition, she has taken French lessons in the past, most of which she has forgotten. She has experience in writing papers and in her free time, she offers volunteer work in various humanitarian organizations. Her interests lie among human rights, political communication, sociology, and International Relations. Katerina is interested in constantly learning new things and exploring new countries. She hates being photographed but enjoys to photograph other people and places. She also loves food but doesn’t like cooking at all. She adores all types of art but holds a special interest for cinema, literature, and summer concerts.

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Aspasia Mousoulidi

PROJECT MANAGER

Aspasia, with a background in policy analysis and sustainable development, is working as a EU Projects’ Manager. Since her late school years, she had participated in Model United Nations’ conferences, as an ambassador of sustainable development; She was involved also as a researcher in Student Association for International Affairs, as well as in National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ annual journal of Political Science. For her an EU project is a policy response, targeted to people and communities that are left behind. Ever since she can remember herself, she was in a  dance and theater classroom. She adores pets, and especially cats. You will see her with her best friends in many artistic happenings in downtown. When summer is on the way, she is already in the airport, waiting to depart to a new place while listening to her favorite rock band “Pink Floyd”. She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue), English and German, and has a basic knowledge of Spanish and French.

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Marievi Gretsi

Team Leader

Marievi is a graduate of International and European Studies (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences) and is currently studying for her MSc in the scientific field of theology and the study of religion and culture. She is currently working at the European Department of AKMI Metropolitan College as a Project Manager in the context of skills anticipation and excellence in the tourism industry. What impressed her to become actively involved with the EU programmes is her desire to unlock future opportunities for young people in Europe. On account of this, she has gained extensive experience in project management of national, international and EU-funded projects focusing on skills development and career opportunities for young unemployed, entrepreneurs and socially vulnerable groups mainly in the blue economy sector. However, apart from the daily routine at AKMI Metropolitan College, she likes spending time with friends, usually cooking for them – yes, she is the chef of the crew – and taking care of her plants as she cherishes them. She likes to deal with everyday life with a sense of humour and to overcome all the challenges she encounters. She is a native Greek speaker, fluent in English and French. 

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Christina Triantafyllou

EDUCATION MANAGER

Christina holds a Bachelor in Humanities and is currently working as a Project Manager in EU-funded projects. The “exotic” (not) city of Agrinio is the place of her origins, and a small lovely village in Tzoumerka is part of her childhood summer memories. Her previous experiences are mostly related to face-to-face and online teaching in multicultural environments and the delivery of international youth exchanges. Life-long learning and creativity are some of the words that describe her, and topics concerning psychology, education, and social inclusion capture her interest. Christina likes volunteering and contributing to the support of vulnerable groups. She loves traveling, painting, reading books on philosophy and psychology, eating pasta, visiting museums, and walking by the sea on a sunny day. Christina is also so clumsy. So please avoid putting your devices beside her. She speaks Greek and English, and even if she has learned German, she can only recall a few words.

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Andreas Tsalamatas

HEAD OF FINANCE

Andreas, holds a BA in Business Administration MSc in International and European Economics studies. He is working as a Financial Manager of EU Funded Projects. Ηe is fluent in Greek (mother tongue) English. Since his early age he played volleyball in his neighborhood team. His love for volleyball triggered him to became a coach in his neighborhood team and impart all his knowledge to young children. As a volunteer in the post-graduate years, he was member in AISEC and he tried to find free accommodation in hostels and hotels for European youth exchange programs. He wants to inspire young people to get engaged in volunteering for a greener planet. He is a food lover, an expert in Italian cuisine and he wants to taste different cuisines around the world. Also, he is charmed for black Rhum. His favorite color is blue and the sea view gives him more power to imagine, to travel in magic places, and to continue being creative.

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Christina Meleouni

PROJECT MANAGER

Christina holds BA in Political Science and two master’s degrees in the field of international relations. She is from Nafplio which is her “paradise”. She is currently working at AKMI International as a Project Manager. Also, Christina is a volunteer of the Hellenic Red Cross in the department of Samaritans, Lifeguards, and Rescuers. She plays tennis and enjoys everything that has to do with food. She loves reading and enjoys listening to rock music as well as opera and classical music. Her passion is to attend to rock as well as operas’ live performances. In her free time, enjoys movies and theatrical plays. Her dream is to travel all over the world!!! She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue) and English.

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Maria Kelepouri

PROJECT MANAGER

Maria lives in Athens. She has been working for Erasmus projects since 2015 and currently is a project manager in AKMI International. She studied Political Sciences in the Athens Law School and Marketing Management in the American College in Greece and completed her MBA in the UK with focus on Creative Marketing. She is a firm believer in life-long learning and she works well under deadlines. She loves theatre, writing, cats, books, coffee, travelling, rafting and her two children, not in this order. She spends summer time in Mani in Southern Greece, next to the sea. She is a certified but inexperienced open sea Sailing Captain. She has more than 20 years of hands-on work experience in marketing, communication, and project management, but she is still trying to decide what she will be when she grows up. She speaks Greek, English and French.

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Paris Valadakis

Web Developer

Paris works for AKMI International as a Web Developer with over 16 years of experience in web development, digital marketing, and system administration. He is proficient in a wide range of platforms and technologies—including Joomla, WordPress, Moodle, PHP, TypeScript, React.js, and SQL—delivering polished front-end and back-end solutions as well as comprehensive SEO, UI design, and database management. Certified in computer networking, he has built and maintained hundreds of websites and learning management systems with SCORM integration. Outside of his robust IT career, Paris is also a passionate rock and heavy metal musician—writing, performing, and recording in his spare time. He enjoys traveling, cooking, and watching action films, and communicates fluently in both Greek and English.

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Georgios Fragkos

PROJECT MANAGER

George holds BA in International Relations and International Organizations with a specialization in the Mediterranean region and a MSc in Geopolitics, Defense, and Security. He is Ph.D. candidate in International Relations and Foreign Policy analysis in the Middle East. He has been studying the regions of the Middle East and North Africa for 10 years, and he is a researcher for 6 years in various academic institutes. He was an intern at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he has been researching immigration issues in Europe for two years. His favourite activities are cinema, literature, and extreme sports. His philosophy is not to be stressed and not to worry too much. He gave up his career as a model because the European programmes won him over, and he works on this sector since 2020. He speaks fluent English and supposedly knows some words in French, and Arabic

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Daiana Tsitso

graphic designer

Daiana has been working as a graphic designer for over six years. Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Premiere Pro and After Effects are some of the editing programmes that she is an expert on. When it comes to her job, she aims for perfection and is satisfied with nothing less. She adores fat cats, nice food and anything that involves creation. She is passionate about every form of art and she loves making new experiences. Her restless spirit led her to take up dancing & drawing lessons. She usually finds herself engaged to reading a new book, enjoying nature or doing research on her work field. She prefers face to face communication over computer or mobile screens. If you do not know where to find her, she is probably cleaning her desk or sanitizing her hands. She speaks Greek and English.

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Constantina Tsakalou

Researcher

Konstantina is a BA holder of International and European Studies from University of Piraeus, while she has recently completed her Master in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Panteion University of Athens. As an undergraduate and postgraduate student, she has volunteered in several Non – Governmental Organizations and Research Institutions, as well as she has participated in MuNs (Model United Nations) Simulations. She likes writing, and she has published many articles on websites. She enjoys spending her time with her family and her friends, watching movies, and attending theatrical plays. Her dream is to travel all over the world, and discover new places. She loves animals, and especially cats. She is a food lover, despite the fact that she doesn’t know anything about cooking. She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue), English and French.    

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Despoina Vlachou

Office Manager

Despoina holds a BA in International & European Relations from the University of Piraeus. She is the office manager of AKMI International. As an undergraduate student, she has volunteered in several Non – Governmental Organizations and Institutions. Despina is fluent in Greek (her mother tongue), French and English. She is interested in learning new languages and exploring new things. She laughs too much (and too loud), loves eating, and hates cooking (although she is good at it). In her free time, she tutors 2 elementary kids, who she adores. Unfortunately, she has come to terms with her obsession with coffee and wine.

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Chryssa Vlachopoulou

PROJECT MANAGER

Chryssa has been working on EU-funded policy projects for the past seven years. She holds an MA degree in Cultural Management and an Integrated Master’s degree in Fine Arts. She has a lot of experience in designing and implementing programs for skills development, mobility, knowledge exchange, and capacity building, specializing in the field of the cultural and creative sectors. She is currently exploring the tourism sector and skills partnerships building as part of her work in AKMI. Her artistic background makes her want to discover creativity in the most boring tasks. She is passionate about making things work and connecting people with things they love. She enjoys the sun, observing people, music, wine, food, and the sea. She speaks fluent English and she is currently taking online classes in French, hoping that one day she will be also able to speak French.

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Marianna Mitsi

PROJECT MANAGER

Marianna holds an MBA from the Agricultural University of Athens. She works as a Financial Manager of EU Co-Funded Projects. She speaks, besides Greek, English and French and she occasionally pretends she speaks Spanish as well. She loves humanitarian work and has done some humanitarian missions in several countries always as a finance. She loves swimming and going to the theatre. She loves travelling and wants to visit as many places as she can. She also loves and appreciates good wine.

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Maria Koutsonanou

Development Manager

Maria’s background is in Psychology, where she holds a Bachelor’s and 2 Master’s degrees, in Clinical & Community Psychology and Research Methods & Evolutionary Psychology respectively. She has trained in existential psychotherapy and later explored substance abuse counselling, and political, critical, feminist and liberation psychology, to reach two conclusions. First, a growing suspicion that you can hack life by being both present and a “silly goose” and second, that she enjoys research (even –or maybe especially- googling random things, like the inner workings of a fridge). Being a junior Project Manager at AKMI allows for a combination of her passion for research along with her interest in intercultural human relations and actions that foster opportunities for education, inclusion and diversity. She speaks Greek, German & English and once upon a blue moon, took French and Spanish together, so as to fuse them and forget them. She is a serial crafter (knitting, candle making, cosmetics), jack of all but master of none, and her care language includes cooking for her dog and preparing song playlists for her friends.

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Maria Kandilioti

PROJECT MANAGER

Maria holds a BA in Finance from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MSc in Spatial Development and Urban Policy from the University of Thessaly. Her passion for arts and culture leads her to an MSc in Cultural Management where she opened her mind to an appealing new world.
She has devoted a lot of time working for non-governmental organizations and that equipped her with social concern and a great sense of responsibility against humanity. Also, she has built a strong network of interesting people. Over the past few years, she is working as an EU Project Manager specialising in projects about innovation, social cohesion, urban development, tourism management and others.
She speaks Greek (her mother tongue), English and Spanish. She loves to be a traveller and not a tourist, she enjoys exploring nature and she is doing yoga for mental health, energy and vitality. She is in love with Athens and tries to take all the advantages this city has to offer, most of the time with company but sometimes on her own and without feeling lonely at all.

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Katerina Stergiopoulou

PROJECT MANAGER

Katerina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and a MA degree in European Politics from Warwick University. She is fluent in English, Greek (native speaker) and regarding her French, she claims in a lousy accent “Je peux comprendre mieux que je peux parler”. She has also taken courses in Spanish and Arabic but these ambitious undertakings did not lead to any level of fluency. She is currently an EU Project Manager at AKMI International and has prior professional experience in both the non-governmental and the private sectors. Since her days as a student, she has been an active volunteer at student associations and multiple NGOs. Environmental causes hold a special place in her heart. She loves aeroplane food, learning new things, and gaining new experiences. Her hobbies include pottery, mushroom hunting, and harry potter trivia games.

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Katerina Loukopoulou

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Katerina has a BA in Political Sciences from the Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki. Before she joined AKMI International, Katerina was working in Non-Governmental Organization specializing in designing and implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Projects. She volunteered for 6 years at the YMCA of Thessaloniki as a Youth Worker. Katerina was born and raised in Thessaloniki but is totally in love with Athens’s boisterous cultural life, where she lives for the last 2 years. As a true example of Gen Z, she is up to date with all the music and art events, while she loves trying out new restaurants. She has a lovely cat that shows up at every Zoom Meeting she is in! 

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Ioannis Koutoudis

PROJECT MANAGER

Ioannis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems.
He has over six years of professional experience in designing and implementing humanitarian projects aiming to direct support or/and the development of skills for vulnerable groups. In 2018, he was certified as a non–formal educator for adults and has been enjoying teaching as a part-time educator since then.
Brainstorming, coming up with ideas, and analyzing problems/situations are among his favourite tasks at work, but nothing compares with the feeling of having something finished by the end of the day.
He loves cooking, he hates tidying up.
Among his somewhat many interests (from gardening to playing video games for hours), his true passion is consuming stories in any form; theatre, books, tv-series, movies, discussions, and every now and then by living them.

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Eva Vaiouli

Head of Development

Eva holds a BSc in International, European and Regional Studies, while she has recently completed her MSc in International and European Policy on Education, Training, and Research. She was born in Larisa, which is her “quiet place” and she often gets homesick, but she is secretly in love with Athens’ vibe, where she lives for the last 9 years. As a volunteer of the Hellenic Red Cross, where she has been a teacher for migrant children, and a hospitality aide for unaccompanied children, she has developed a great interest in Children’s Rights and Protection. Her friends and colleagues admire her for staying so calm in hard situations, while people on LinkedIn endorse her for teamwork and time management. However, she would prefer to be endorsed for her excellent performance in board games and her -not so excellent- vocal skills. She enjoys learning new things, visiting new places, tasting new flavors, and watching old TV series, and she cannot imagine a life without love, coffee and wine. She is fluent in Greek (mother tongue), English and French.