Community

Chios Island is a place that throughout history has suffered many devastating natural, economical and cultural disasters. From the massacre of the island, the many fires that were either natural or human made, financial crises and last but not least the refugee crisis. As an Island that is right at the borders of Greece and Turkey, far from the mainland and not very touristic it has a disadvantage from the aspect of the limited resources that can be allocated in order to create and maintain a beautiful educational environment in local educational institutions, to promote social awareness, green sustainability and protection and to protect and replenish the green resources of the island. This activity aims to engage locals about reforestation of the lost forests that were famous in the ancient years, cultural awareness about the history of the island and the deep meaning in the Greek independence, culture and economy through the ages, assisting in restorations and beautification of local public institutions such as primary schools and kindergartens, engaging in environmental activities such as beaches cleanups, litter cleanups from urban streets and paths through forests.
Volunteers engage in a big variety of activities that aim in the local awareness of the climate change and environmentally sustainable ways of life, the assistance in the beautification of public institutions or other public places such as painting public walls that are in plain site and public squares. All of these activities will be in accordance with the local community and municipality’s needs and laws.
-Our organization in consultation with the municipality will reserve an area indicative for reforestation. In this area, the members of the organization together with the participating volunteers will make a plan about the optimal implementation of reforestation techniques. Upon agreed on the plan, the volunteers with the assistance of the H/O will execute the plan according to the timeframe and the agreed sequence of actions.
-Volunteers will have the chance to beautify local institutions such as kindergartens and primary schools. In this part of the activity, volunteers will create or restore paintings on walls and on the ground of the yards of the institutions. These paintings’ role will be to promote team spirit, self-confidence, environmental awareness and educate the young students with subjects about the environment, and even both Greek and English language alphabet and grammar and other school subjects, creating a beautiful environment and “hide” structures and walls that might subconsciously create stress to the young students.
-Due to the strong winds, sea currents and the ignorance of the locals about the seriousness of the global climate crisis, the coastline of the island gets littered either by trash that is floating in the sea from other places or from locals and visitors that don’t respect the environment. In this part of the activity, young volunteers will organize together with the H/O and participate in cleaning urban streets, mountain paths and beaches.