Greek Australians have played a leading role in international efforts to revive Greece’s most isolated border islands, including Pserimos, Gavdos and Kastellorizo, through the International Hellenic Association (IHA) and its “Smart Islands” initiative.
The second IHA conference, held recently on Kastellorizo, brought together representatives from local government, academia and the diaspora to explore sustainable solutions against depopulation and desertification.
Speaking to APE-MPE, IHA Honorary President Evangelos Rigos praised the global Hellenic diaspora for turning nostalgia into “a guarantee of life for the borders of Hellenism.”
The conference showcased practical projects – from school restorations and scholarships to renewable infrastructure – aimed at keeping families and children on Greece’s small islands.
Among those present were Greek Australians with Kastellorizian heritage, including lawyer and former SAE Oceania president Costas Vertzayias, Nikolaos Vogiatzis, Pantazis Choulis (founder of the Kastellorizo Puzzle Museum), and Despina Dalmaris, former General Secretary of the Hellenic Australian Association. They joined delegates from the USA and Europe in reaffirming their commitment to preserving island life.
Ms Dalmaris described the gathering as a powerful expression of “the unity of Hellenism everywhere” and a reminder of the challenges facing Greece’s frontier communities.
Mr Vertzayias highlighted that while Kastellorizo once had 10,000 residents, today only 500 remain — compared to an estimated 25,000 descendants living in Australia.
The IHA, led by President Nina Gatzoulis and Secretary Dr Athanasios Sarantopoulos, has channelled diaspora donations into education and infrastructure, including $147,000 to reopen Pserimos’ primary school after 13 years of closure. Similar initiatives have supported Gavdos and Arki, as well as a pilot hybrid high school model for remote island students.
Captain Rigos credited the diaspora’s “fire, passion and love” for these achievements, noting that Greek communities abroad – including those in Australia – are not just preserving heritage, but actively giving new life to Greece’s outermost islands.
Source: Insider.gr
