Greek diaspora from the US and Australia rally to support Greece’s remote islands

The Greek diaspora is stepping up efforts to revitalise and support Greece’s distant borderline islands, transforming nostalgia for the homeland into factual initiatives for sustainable development.

At the bosom of these efforts is the International Hellenic Association (IHA), which precocious held its 2nd “Smart Islands” league (20–21 September) connected Kastellorizo, successful collaboration with the municipalities of Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Kifissia, and the 3B portion (Vari, Voula, Vouliagmeni) under the auspices of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE). The IHA has already launched projects connected the islands of Pserimos, Gavdos, and Kastellorizo, aiming to antagonistic depopulation and make conditions for growth.

“From the ends of the earth, Greeks abroad, with undying representation and emotion for their homeland, are turning nostalgia into rebirth and a warrant of beingness for Hellenism’s borders,” said IHA honorary president Evangelos Rigos successful comments to the Athens–Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

Diaspora voices from Australia and the US

The Kastellorizo league brought together salient Greek-Americans and Greek-Australians, including IHA president Nina Gatzoulis, a university prof and erstwhile caput of the World Pan-Macedonian Associations, IHA caput Dr Athanasios Sarantopoulos of Webster University Athens, and erstwhile IMF authoritative Haris Vittas.

Representing the Greek-Australian assemblage were lawyer and erstwhile SAE Oceania president Kostas Vertzagias, erstwhile president of the Kastellorizian Association, arsenic well arsenic figures such arsenic mathematician and depository laminitis Pantazis Choulis, and English prof Despina Dalmaris, a past caput of Greek-Australian associations.

Dalmaris described the lawsuit arsenic “a groundbreaking and successful gathering that highlighted some the unity of Hellenism worldwide and its heavy interest for the situation facing Greece’s borderline islands.”

Reviving communities, reopening schools

Speakers noted the challenges of declining populations and shrinking section economies, but besides pointed to examples of renewal. On Pserimos, the IHA raised $147,000 USD to reopen the island’s superior schoolhouse aft much than a decennary of closure, while besides providing scholarships and household support. Similar initiatives person been launched successful Gavdos and the Diapontia islands adjacent Corfu, including fiscal assistance to families and infrastructure support.

Kastellorizo itself, erstwhile location to 10,000 residents and boasting the world’s highest per-capita vessel ownership successful the aboriginal 20th century, present counts lone 500 inhabitants. In contrast, Australia is location to an estimated 20,000–25,000 radical of Kastellorizian descent.

“The geostrategic presumption of Kastellorizo makes its survival vital,” said Vertzagias. “Migration began arsenic aboriginal arsenic the 1890s, and while the land has emptied, the diaspora has grown into tens of thousands abroad.”

Looking to the future

The IHA says its work is lone beginning. Its enactment emphasised the value of strong ties betwixt section authorities, scientists, markets, and the diaspora to transform proposals into actionable projects. “This league is simply a level for turning ideas into policies and factual works for small islands,” said organising committee president Theodoros Spathopoulos.

IHA president Nina Gatzoulis added: “This is the spark for continuing the large effort to make our borderline islands. The diaspora has ever stood by Greece, whether done AHEPA’s support during fires and floods, oregon Pan-Macedonian fundraising for hospitals and ambulances. The adjacent procreation indispensable consciousness that transportation too.”

The IHA’s latest projects see backing for hybrid precocious schools successful distant islands such arsenic Pserimos, Gavdos and Arki, and caller initiatives to grow Greek-language learning globally done some classrooms and online lectures.

For 90-year-old Rigos, the association’s veteran figurehead, the ngo is clear: “By uniting the strengths of Hellenism astatine location and abroad, we respire beingness backmost into small islands, keeping some the borders and the soul of Hellenism alive.”