With words of emotion and national pride, the President of the Hellenic Shipping Association (HSA), Melina Travlou, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered speeches during the presentation of the “Agios Nikolaos” project, an emblematic initiative for the reconstruction and upgrading of schools in Thessaly affected by the devastating floods.

The program, implemented with €50 million in funding from the Hellenic Shipping Association, is – as Ms. Travlou emphasized – “a conscious act of duty toward the children, the parents, the teachers, and the homeland itself.”

In her speech, the HSA president first addressed the children of Thessaly, thanking them for the strength and hope they embodied after the natural disaster.

“You showed us what it means to hope, to lower your head, to move forward together, and to keep moving ahead,” she said.

Ms. Travlou spoke of a region that “was severely tested but did not lose its light and spirit,” emphasizing that schools are “the foundation of a new beginning, where hope is reborn and the future is built.”

Referring to the work of the Hellenic Shipping Association, she noted that “taking full responsibility for the reconstruction and upgrading of schools was for us a self-evident act of responsibility and contribution,” highlighting the long-standing connection of Greek shipping with society and the public good.

“When we cooperate, when we stand by each other, nothing is impossible. When we join our forces, we turn trial into creation,” she stressed. She explained that the “Agios Nikolaos” project is not limited to education but also embraces critical areas such as public health and social cohesion.

“It is a comprehensive plan for regeneration and collective empowerment because it belongs to everyone – to the people who did not break, to the children who will be educated in the new schools, to the generations who will learn what it means to love and honor their homeland.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “The state stood by the citizens – Thessaly is reborn”

Taking the floor, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with deep emotion about the difficult times following the floods, recalling the moment he first flew over Thessaly, “facing the greatest natural disaster caused by the climate crisis in Greece and Europe.”

“It was obvious that we had to mobilize national and European resources, as well as the strength of society. I remember the first phone call to Melina Travlou – the response was immediately positive. €50 million was gathered very quickly,” the Prime Minister revealed.

Mr. Mitsotakis praised the role of the Armed Forces, rescue teams, the Police, and local authorities, noting that “only thanks to their self-sacrifice did we not mourn more victims.”

Speaking about the restoration projects, the Prime Minister said that 431 schools have already been rebuilt, thanks to the contribution of the shipping community, with the aim of reaching a total of 2,000 school buildings.

“What greater satisfaction than seeing the smiling faces of children returning to bright, safe, and modern schools?” he emphasized.

He also noted that the state has already allocated over €3.3 billion for restoration projects, compensation, and income support, adding that “if the Greek economy did not have the dynamism it has today, we would not have been able to stand so effectively alongside Thessaly.”

Closing his speech, the Prime Minister issued a call for unity: “When the state, civil society, and the country’s major forces collaborate, we can achieve the impossible. This trial has united us and made us stronger.”

The event concluded in an atmosphere of emotion, with the students of Thessaly enthusiastically applauding the speakers and sending their own message of optimism: that “hope is reborn where the spirit does not break.”