In mountainous regions and remote islands, schools are closing due to a lack of students. This further accelerates the depopulation of the Greek countryside. However, one village has decided to fight to keep its school open. A call was thus launched on social media to attract new residents. A thousand families responded, and two have already settled in.
In Fourna, in the Eurytania district in the center of the country, for the first time the kindergarten has remained closed. The primary school now has only two students, one of whom will complete their education this summer. Determined to change things, the teacher and the village priest launched a call via Facebook, announcing that the village would offer two couples free housing for a year, financial support, and help finding a job.
In just a few days, more than 1,000 people expressed their desire to move to this mountain village. "We posted in mid-August, and even now, two and a half months later, we are receiving calls from families. There are many people looking to ensure a good standard of living for their children. But also to reduce the cost of living, which is very high in big cities," explains the village teacher, Giota Diamantí.
"New Life in the Village"
Two families, with six and three children, have settled in the village. They have quadrupled the number of students in the primary school and allowed the kindergarten to reopen next school year. "Without these new residents, the village's primary school would have had only one student next year and would have closed. We chose families that best matched the village profile and who would not have difficulty finding work here," explains the teacher.
Vassiliki Emmanouil, 36, mother of six children, is one of the newcomers. She plans to open a bakery since the last one in the village closed 25 years ago. Her husband, meanwhile, will work at the forestry cooperative and will also engage in craft work.
They are already envisioning the rest of their lives in Fourna, and the return to Athens seems very distant. "We are forming a community here," Vassiliki observes. "With the women of the village, we have become so close that I feel like I have known them for years. The priest's wife publicly stated about me that she found the sister she never had. How could I abandon all of this to go live in Athens or elsewhere?"
Her children are fully enjoying the quality of life offered by the village. "My 14-year-old son told me a few days ago: 'Mom, I finally live.' In the afternoons, they play ball with the other village children, explore the surroundings, or go chestnut picking. In Athens, these activities were not feasible. As soon as school ended, they would spend hours on their phones.
"There is kindness, attention, and solidarity among the residents. Something that is hard to find in large cities. For example, a resident can go collect their eggs and will come knock on my door to offer me some too. These are gestures that create a sense of security and unity," shares the young mother, excited about her new life.
Helping the Return to Rural Life
The great interest generated by the teacher's post across Greece has led to the creation of the non-governmental organization Nea Zoi sto Chorio (which could be translated as New Life in the Village). Its goal is to raise funds so that the village can welcome and support other families.
"In addition to those who want to move here, businesses and individuals have expressed a desire to contribute to the revival of Fourna. It is very moving, and I believe that in the near future, we will be able to welcome other waiting families," testifies Giota Diamantí.
"We did not expect this success. ZDF and ArteTV, German media, visited us to cover what happened in our village and talk to the families who settled here. And in a few days, a journalist from the New York Times is arriving. I hope all of this marks the beginning of a true renaissance for our village," concludes Giota Diamanti.
The success of this project has led residents of other depopulating villages in the country to seek advice on attracting residents. Additionally, a team of French researchers collaborating with the University of Thessaly (UTH) has visited Fourna to study how the mountain could be utilized. It is a picturesque and unspoiled place, ideal for nature lovers. Everything is therefore in place, although, for now, it still lacks a restaurant, a bookstore, and, of course, a bakery for both residents and tourists. Because the village has the potential to be a true winter holiday destination!
This article is part of a trilogy on the theme of rural depopulation and will be followed by:
When Citizen Savings Save Farms
The NGO Amal Biladi Aims to Revitalize Rural Villages
Featured Photo: The Church of Fourna © Giota Diamanti