The phone of local officials in the village of Fourna, Evrytania, has been ringing nonstop from people responding to the priest and teacher’s call for families to relocate, offering them homes and employment to keep the village “alive.”

Stefanos Kostopoulos and Vasiliki Emmanouil, along with their six children, are the first family to make the big decision to live permanently in the village.

This village, located at an altitude of 840 meters and surrounded by fir trees, has welcomed them. The two parents spoke to protothema.gr about how they made the decision to become residents of Karpenisi and how warmly the locals received them.

“I saw the advertisement on Facebook, and when I discussed it with my wife, we immediately agreed to change our lives for the better. We decided to leave Germany, where we lived and had our jobs, and return to nature, which we love so much. We spoke with the priest Konstantinos Dousikos and came to the village. We love the place, living peacefully and harmoniously with our children. There are still four children in the middle school and two in the elementary school. Every beginning is difficult and requires patience, but we believe everything will go well, and we will start our new life,” says Stefanos. His wife, Vasiliki, who has completed a course in hairdressing, adds, “I have finished hairdressing, but I am ready to do any job I can find. Our decision to come here was made for the good of our children. They provide us with housing, and what I would like to say is that anyone interested in supporting our efforts is welcome.”

According to residents who are actively contributing to this initiative, in addition to the first family with six children that has moved to the village, two more families are expected—one with four children and another with seven. There are sponsors already helping with food and services, but the needs are increasing, and anyone who would like to help is welcomed, as they tell protothema.gr.

For his part, priest Konstantinos Dousikos feels very happy with the outcome.

“Our village has come to life again. We started with two families, and now over 100 families are seriously interested in coming here. I am very happy. Last year at the blessing, I wanted to cry because I knew what would follow. At least now, our schools will be sustained. The authorities and the region have committed to helping us. In recent years, our village had become lifeless, and from 158 permanent residents, we dropped to 118 in three years. I hope we will grow more.”

The advertisement published about a month ago received a great response and positive comments.

“Families Wanted”

“From a village in Evrytania near Karpenisi. A village in Evrytania is looking for one (or possibly more) families with children who want to move to the village and enroll their kids in the schools.

The village has:

• kindergarten,
• elementary school,
• middle school, and
• high school.

It is located 40 kilometers from Karpenisi.

Free housing and work (at least for the husband) is provided, along with assistance with initial expenses from the whole village!

If you know of any family in need, you can contact me for more information. Phone: 6993702888.”