Supporting the needs of young
people on Greek outlying islands

doValue Greece and the Aegean Team join forces in standing by the young generation on remote Greek islands

As part of its #AxiesZois (#LifeValues) corporate social responsibility initiatives, doValue Greece is actively supporting the social needs of people living in remote parts of the country, but also the struggle of students on remote islands for equal access to learning opportunities.

Through #LifeValues, we have joined forces with the Aegean Team, which has been traversing the Aegean Sea for the last 30 years, not just sailing across it, but also weaving a durable fabric of support, empathy and solidarity, giving back to the small and remote Aegean islands.

In 2023, doValue Greece visited the remote island of Anafi, where it anticipated the needs of the few, eager students, witnessed the work of the local island community, and offered valuable tools for all school levels to upgrade the quality of education and school life, actively assisting in their efforts in view of the new school year.

Continuing its active support of schools on remote Greek islands, in 2024 doValue Greece funded the educational needs of three remote islands. Along with the Aegean Sea and the 30th Anniversary Crossing, which took place on 16-26 May, doValue offered the necessary supplies to the students of remote island regions who are thirsty for knowledge.

Travelling and actively assisting remote schools, addressing their essential needs.

Anafi

On remote Anafi, doValue chose to support the few, yet competent and thirsty for knowledge students at the start of the school year. Working together with the Aegean Team NGO, and assisted by the local authorities, it focused on the needs of the educational community, offering valuable tools with the aim of upgrading the educational process and school life in general. In addition, doValue Greece financially supports the participation of junior and senior high-school students from Anafi in the 8th European Student Conference, organised by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in Rome on 26/11.

The island’s school community warmly accepted the donation of laptops to the primary and junior high school, as well as equipment for the kindergarten’s playground, as these reinforce the tough job of teachers, especially on a remote island such as Anafi. “With these new supplies, our school can raise the bar in the learning and education we offer. “It’s very nice to be supported by people who believe in you and in the potential of children on remote islands,” said Mr Thanasis Varsos, High School Principal at the Manolis Glezos High School on Anafi.

“By supporting the student community that is trying to do its job with just a few measly supplies, we believe we are making a difference in preventing the schools of remote Greece from becoming deserted. For all of us at doValue, the concept of giving and supporting are major priorities, all the more so when the initiatives we undertake are addressed to young people, their education and their career,” noted Ms Natasa Koukouraki, Marketing & Communication Director at doValue Greece.

Ms Denise Chimi, Chairperson of the Aegean Team's Board of Directors, stated, “The Aegean Team is supported by remarkable people and companies, one of them being doValue Greece, which we met this year. They embraced the Anafi programme and we are deeply thankful for that.”

The initiatives on Anafi are part of doValue Greece's #LifeValues CSR programme. The company has launched a wide-scale CSR action plan, focusing on three pillars: Society - Environment - Health. At the same time, one of its main objectives is to stand by local communities, especially in areas of the country experiencing shortages and weaknesses.

See the Anafi travelogue of doValue Greece here.

See the press release here.

Fournoi

Fournoi, the largest island of the Fournoi Korseon complex in the Aegean Sea, is a welcoming and peaceful fisherman’s village with a population of just 1,343 (2021). This beautiful fisherman’s island accepted doValue’s generous donations to all educational levels: kindergarten, primary school and high school on Korseoi.

They met needs such as:

Electronic equipment – UPS, projector, speakers and lamination devices.
LEGO educational sets – Special LEGO sets for educational purposes, e.g. robotics.
Educational toys and materials – Various materials such as Montessori, educational toys with sand and dinosaurs.
Tools and lamination materials – Cards and lamination devices.
Other items – Including compasses, first-aid kits and safety mirrors.

By meeting key shortages in infrastructure and school equipment, doValue is effectively contributing to preventing the schools of remote Greece from becoming deserted.

See the Fournous travelogue of doValue Greece here.

Agathonisi

Agathonisi is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese, occupying an area of 13.4 km². It is a Natura 2000 protected site, as a valuable refuge for rare birds. The kindergarten, primary school and day high school welcomed doValue’s initiative, which included donation of supplies, such as:

Electronic equipment – Including laptops and computers, storage devices, headphones and power strips.
Paper and office supplies – Such as paper, envelopes and folders, packaging materials and tape, glue and cutting tools.
Office devices and tools.
Stationery.
Arts and crafts materials.
Books.
Toys and sports equipment.

By meeting key shortages in infrastructure and school equipment, doValue is effectively contributing to preventing the schools of remote Greece from becoming deserted.

See the Agathonisi travelogue of doValue Greece here.

Sikinos

Sikinos, with a population of just 180, is a small Cycladic island in the Aegean Sea, between Folegandros and Ios, with ancient settlement ruins dotted across the Sikinos landscape. Its flora and fauna are protected under Natura 2000. It has three settlements: Alopronoia (small port), Chorio and Kastro (Chora). Built at the edge of a cliff rising 280 metres above the sea, Kastro is an old fortified settlement dating back to the 15th century. It also houses the island’s school complex.

doValue supported the Sikinos kindergarten, primary school and high school, where any donation, small or large, fills the students and teachers with appreciation and strength so they may carry on. The supplies are essential in improving their educational level and making their day-to-day life easier, such as:

Computers and devices – Such as laptops and desktops.
Furniture.
Teaching aids: Such as interactive board.

By meeting key shortages in infrastructure and school equipment, doValue is effectively contributing to preventing the schools of remote Greece from becoming deserted.