Just four nautical miles from Türkiye lies the outlying Pserimos. The island has no pharmacy, supermarket, or bank.

The small island belongs to the municipality of Kalymnos while its single-seat school is attended by four students: Taxiarchis, Panormitis, Galatiani, and Eleftheria. The children’s mothers spoke to SKAI about how they found themselves on the island, their needs, and life on the island. “We don’t feel forgotten, we are forgotten,” said a mother who lives on the island.

“How do our roots keep us here? Our grandparents, our uncles—they’re the ones who keep us grounded. Our roots won’t let us be easily uprooted,” the mother said. She added that the residents are asking for basic necessities, like a doctor. She has four children, and while their life is on the island, if they leave, it will be over. “How long can ten grandparents keep the island going?” she questioned, noting that the Pserimites living in Kalymnos must return.

About the jobs available in winter, the mother said that “in winter the women can’t do anything. The men are in construction, in the fields, working in the fields.”

“If a child gets sick and has a fever it’s over”

“We’ve made our homes dispensaries and pharmacies. We usually have a doctor from May to October. Bless the army for sending us a doctor. If a little kid gets sick and it’s over, we’ll just sit here and die. Let them help a little… VAT, punctuality, light, water. They could help it be a little cheaper in a place like this.”

Yet another woman spoke to the show, asking for “two of the 10 things they’ve ordered to be done: a doctor to come in and more attention to the school children.”

Residents of Pserimos rely on supplies from Kalymnos and are served by the Maniae boat. “If this boat is unavailable, Pserimos is finished,” one woman told SKAI. During bad weather, the Coast Guard assists by transporting residents in need. “Pserimos has a few issues that need to be addressed to prevent the island from becoming deserted, ensuring that it doesn’t fall into neglect,” she added.