kimolos – CYCLADES Unified

Cyclades Unified and Kimolos at the Heart of European Heritage Resilience through RESILIAGE

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:46:54 +0000

Once #cycladesunified founded in July 2024, we were selected to participate in the European RESILIAGE program (Horizon Europe 2023–2026) as a CORE Associated Lab for two years, representing the cultural heritage of the island of https://resiliage.eu/project-overview/

The closing event of the European RESILIAGE project (Horizon Europe 2023–2026) “Cultural and Natural Heritage for Preparedness and Resilience,” to which we were invited, took place on June 24, 2026, at the BOZAR Center for Fine Arts in Brussels.

The event, organized by UNESCO, brought together researchers, organizations, professionals, and communities to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding the role of cultural and natural heritage in strengthening community resilience.

Cyclades Unified, in collaboration with the Municipality of Kimolos and the mayor, Mr. Konstantinos Ventouris, prepared the bilingual Preparedness Tool, of 18 pages, for the Medieval Castle Chorio -Kimolos. During the project, the presentations curated by Ms. Agatha Rodi, founder of the organization, focused on the Medieval Castle of Kimolos and its surrounding area, the church and cell of the Miraculous Protectress of Kimolos, Saint Methodia, served by the 94-year-old deaconess Ms. Katerina Marinaki, as well as the Church of the Nativity of Christ (1592).

These churches are an important part of the historical significance of the Medieval Castle (14th–16th centuries) and the cultural heritage of Kimolos.

Funded by the “Horizon Europe” program, RESILIAGE (Promoting a Holistic Understanding of the Factors Affecting Community Resilience and Cultural Heritage through Community-Based Methodologies), aimed to provide new insights and effective solutions to support the resilience of European communities affected by disasters and emergencies.

Since the beginning of the new millennium, more than 1,200 disasters have struck Europe, affecting approximately 15 million people. The impact of these extreme events has been exacerbated by social inequalities and current economic and political crises which, over the years, have gradually diminished the ability to prevent and appropriately respond to these phenomena.

#resiliage #unesco#heritage #culture #kimolos #cyclades #medievalcastle #sustainabilitygoals #crisismanagement #naturaldisaster #greece #Κίμωλος #ΔήμοςΚιμώλου #μεσαιωνικόκάστρο #οσίαμεθοδία#εκκλησίατουχριστού# #Φυσικέςκαταστροφές #πολιτιστικήκληρονομιά

Replacing Plastic Straws with Wheat Ones!

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:42:32 +0000

Click for more information on CPF

The Cyclades Unified organization, with funding from the Cyclades Preservation Fund -CPF, is implementing a targeted initiative on the island of Kimolos: the distribution of 5,000 straws made from wheat, with the aim of reducing the use of single-use plastics and promoting sustainable everyday practices.

In collaboration with the Kimolos Volunteer Group Kimolistes Amke, during the screening of the children’s film “Delphinomikroulis 1” at the Medieval Castle of Kimolos on Thursday, September 4, 2025, straws made from grain crops were distributed free of charge to young movie lovers and adults. #Staramaki

We handed out informational material and answered our young friends queries about the adoption of environmentally friendly, biodegradable wheat straws.

Plastic straws are among the 10 most common types of litter found on European beaches. Every year, more than 36 billion straws are consumed in Europe, most of which end up in the environment. A plastic straw takes up to 200 years to decompose.

It does not decompose completely, but breaks down into microplastics, which pollute the marine ecosystem, enter the food chain, and eventually end up on our plates. In contrast, straws made from natural materials are biodegradable and return safely to the environment without leaving toxic residues or microplastics.

We would like to thank Ms. Sofia Chanioti and 4env, for her collaboration. In order to raise awareness, Ms. Chanioti created a special informational video that shows the spread of plastic straws as waste and highlights the need to turn to alternative solutions.

Media Gallery

StoryTelling Waves – Milos

admin — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:16:51 +0000

Milos Island – 3/10/2024
On Thursday, October 3, 2024, the “Storytelling Waves” took place on the beautiful island of Milos, the island of Aphrodite, with the support of the Ioannis F. Costopoulos Foundation / The J F Costopoulos Foundation, which is under the auspices of the Municipality of Kimolos. We used storytelling as a means of recording Cycladic culture.
Together with a member of Kimolistes – Kimolos Volunteer Group, the lovely Beba Sardi, we met with the students of Adamas Elementary School in the “EMMANOUIL KRIARAS” hall.
They got free copies of our book “A Young Kimolistas”.
We talked with the children of 4th, 5th, 6th grades of the Adamas Elementary School about Kimolos, the emerald island of Polyaigos, and the islanders.

It was a unique experience to hear from students about their trip to Kimolos with Pantofla, the tour of Polyaigos, Skiadi, and the Cine Kalisperitis screenings in Pollonia!
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Principal of the Adamas Primary School, Ms. Anna Rakadaki, for her hospitality, and to the teachers:
4th Grade: Giannis Panagiotou, 5th Grade: Ms. Natasa Tsami, 6th Grade: Athina Souli for their contribution.
Huge thanks to Beba of Kimolos, beloved friend, volunteer, professional for 32 years on the island of Kimolos, and cook for 30 years.

Media Gallery

StoryTelling Waves – Sikinos

admin — Fri, 17 May 2024 08:16:00 +0000

Sikinos Island – 17/5/2024
The beautiful island of Sikinos in the Cyclades, is located between the islands of Folegandros and Ios, was the second stop for “A young Kimolistas”. The “Storytelling Waves” initiative, took place with the support of the Ioannis F. Costopoulos Foundation / The J F Costopoulos Foundation under the auspices of the Municipality of Kimolos and the Municipality of Sikinos.
We would like to thank the Mayor of Sikinos, Mr. Vasilis Marakis, for his warm hospitality, the lovely Mrs. Flora Maraki, and the President of the Sikinos Parents & Guardians Association, Mrs. Sotiria Vamvoukou.
A strong flu virus afflicted the few students of the Primary School of Sikinos and their teacher, Ms. Georgia Katsibarou, https://blogs.sch.gr/gkatsi/author/gkatsi/, for several days.
Despite the difficulties and the unstable weather, I met with four young readers and two mothers, Ms. Irini Petrinoli and Ms. Pantelia Doufi. My friends: Spyros, Dimitris, Filippos, and Konstantinos, left me speechless with their comments and descriptions of the boats, fishing, and Sikinos. The Kindergarten teacher Ms. Vivi Karagianni has exceptional students.
On the beautiful island of Sikinos, with its unique landscape, there is one student in the second grade, two students in the fourth grade, three students in the fifth grade, and one student in the sixth grade! There are two students in kindergarten!

The small islands of the Cyclades in Greece evoke special feelings in visitors and bind them to the island.

The students proved that storytelling and recording are possible and are the only link between the past and the future!

Media Gallery

StoryTelling Waves – Serifos

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:29:30 +0000

Serifos Island – 25/4/2024
On Serifos island, I had the pleasure of conducting a Creative Writing Workshop with the students of 4th, 5th, 6th grades of the Serifos Elementary School, beginning with the presentation of our book, “A Young Kimolistas.”

The “Storytelling Waves” initiative, carried out with the support of the Ioannis F. Costopoulos Foundation, was realised under the auspices of the Municipality of Kimolos and the Municipality of Serifos. The students received free books with the support of the Ioannis F. Costopoulos Foundation, which we warmly thank for its support and for making the “Storytelling Waves” initiative possible.
A discussion about Kimolos, its people, and the events in the book, took place, mentioning the common elements shared by the two islands. History, traditions, and customs were all connected through the students’ “stories” and recorded in separate stories that emerged in groups.

Their teacher Antonis Dimitrios coordinated the creative writing, and fourth-grade teachers Maria Hatzichristou, 5th grade: Antonis Dimitrios, 6th grade: Vasiliki Pachi helped the children write their own accounts of Serifos. Through their writing, students revealed their love for preserving traditions and customs, demonstrating the power of cultural tradition in the Cyclades islands.

The students proved that storytelling and recording history are possible, and they constitute the only link between the past and the future!