Fourna, Greece, a quaint village with a population of 180 nestled amidst the fir-laden mountains of central Greece, is facing the challenges of declining numbers but is determined to retain its position on the map.
A four-hour drive from Athens leads to this serene locale, where tranquility is often interrupted by the sound of church bells or the barking of dogs. The aging population of the village closely observes the fate of their home based on the number of children attending the local primary school, which saw alarming numbers last year with just two students enrolled.
However, the tide for Fourna has begun to turn thanks to an unexpected partnership. The village’s primary school teacher, who is also pursuing a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, has teamed up with Rev. Constantine Dousikos, an Orthodox priest and former lumber mill worker who found his calling later in life.
Together, they initiated a campaign fueled by hope to welcome families into Fourna, offering financial incentives sourced from private donations and municipal support. This initiative is yielding results, as two families have recently moved to the area, five more are waiting to settle by 2025, and numerous inquiries have been made by other interested families. Currently, the local elementary school has eight children enrolled.
Dousikos, who is comfortable navigating both the spiritual and practical realms of village life, notes that their efforts align with a call from the Orthodox Church to foster family life.
“We did what seemed necessary: to help sustain our village,” he remarked from the Church of Transfiguration of Christ in the heart of Fourna. “Village living may not appeal to everyone, but it requires a robust work ethic.”
According to World Bank data, Greece is experiencing a demographic crisis, with 23% of its population aged 65 and older as of 2023. The region of Evrytania, where Fourna is located, grapples with declining birth rates and rural depopulation, displaying an average age of 56.2, which ranks among the highest in the European Union.
Panagiota Diamanti, the sole elementary school teacher and co-founder of the “New Life in the Village” campaign, stresses how urgent the situation has become.
“Without children enrolling, I risk being reassigned, which could lead to the school’s closure. A closed school is unlikely to reopen,” she explained. “We must act decisively.”
Across Greece, over 200 public schools and kindergartens have closed this academic year due to low enrollment, particularly in isolated areas with minimal population growth amid the country’s mountainous terrain and scattered islands.
Interest in their revitalization efforts has increased, with other local authorities reaching out to Diamanti for guidance on creating similar campaigns.
During recess, Diamanti joins her eight students for a game of dodgeball at their school, which boasts stunning views of Evrytania’s rugged mountains. The children have gained a bit of local fame, as their birthdays are often celebrated in the village square.
Vassiliki Emmanouil, who moved to Fourna along with her six children — five sons and a daughter — describes the overwhelming kindness they have received from the community. Residents often leave food at her doorstep and have encouraged her to revive an abandoned bakery once her husband returns from work in Germany.
“I’ve been here almost three months and cannot claim to have faced hardships,” she shared. “The local priest and his family treat us like their own, and the entire village has rallied around us with both material and emotional support.”
The demographic downturn in Greece became evident in 2010 as deaths began surpassing births amid a harsh financial crisis, and the situation has worsened, with the birth rate nearly halved by 2022.
Responding to these challenges, the conservative government established a ministry for family and social cohesion last year, enhancing family benefits as part of their 2025 budget and seeking collaboration with the Orthodox Church.
In a circular issued by the church’s Holy Synod, which was read in every Greek Orthodox institution, it was emphasized that monetary incentives alone would not suffice to reverse the worrying demographic trends.
“Experts have proposed various measures to tackle this issue, given its profound social, economic, and geopolitical repercussions,” read the statement. “The church emphasizes the spiritual significance of family life, advocating for unity and love — where creating families reflects a divine purpose. Children, regarded as blessings from God, infuse life with meaning and symbolize hope.”
For the residents of Fourna, church congregation is also an essential aspect of revitalization. Although several nearby churches remain nearly abandoned for most of the year, they are well-kept and open for significant religious observations.
The recent rise in children attending church services and playfully roaming the previously quiet streets has surprised many locals.
“Initially, I doubted that families would choose to live here because it is a remote and small village with limited amenities,” recalled Giorgos Vassilikoudis, a local business owner.
“But I was pleasantly surprised to see new families moving in and their happiness,” he added. Vassilikoudis, who operates a restaurant and guesthouse, sees this development as beneficial for the village and encourages other communities to take note. “It’s an encouraging sign for our local economy and an inspiring example for neighboring villages.”
A four-hour drive from Athens leads to this serene locale, where tranquility is often interrupted by the sound of church bells or the barking of dogs. The aging population of the village closely observes the fate of their home based on the number of children attending the local primary school, which saw alarming numbers last year with just two students enrolled.
However, the tide for Fourna has begun to turn thanks to an unexpected partnership. The village’s primary school teacher, who is also pursuing a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, has teamed up with Rev. Constantine Dousikos, an Orthodox priest and former lumber mill worker who found his calling later in life.
Together, they initiated a campaign fueled by hope to welcome families into Fourna, offering financial incentives sourced from private donations and municipal support. This initiative is yielding results, as two families have recently moved to the area, five more are waiting to settle by 2025, and numerous inquiries have been made by other interested families. Currently, the local elementary school has eight children enrolled.
Dousikos, who is comfortable navigating both the spiritual and practical realms of village life, notes that their efforts align with a call from the Orthodox Church to foster family life.
“We did what seemed necessary: to help sustain our village,” he remarked from the Church of Transfiguration of Christ in the heart of Fourna. “Village living may not appeal to everyone, but it requires a robust work ethic.”
According to World Bank data, Greece is experiencing a demographic crisis, with 23% of its population aged 65 and older as of 2023. The region of Evrytania, where Fourna is located, grapples with declining birth rates and rural depopulation, displaying an average age of 56.2, which ranks among the highest in the European Union.
Panagiota Diamanti, the sole elementary school teacher and co-founder of the “New Life in the Village” campaign, stresses how urgent the situation has become.
“Without children enrolling, I risk being reassigned, which could lead to the school’s closure. A closed school is unlikely to reopen,” she explained. “We must act decisively.”
Across Greece, over 200 public schools and kindergartens have closed this academic year due to low enrollment, particularly in isolated areas with minimal population growth amid the country’s mountainous terrain and scattered islands.
Interest in their revitalization efforts has increased, with other local authorities reaching out to Diamanti for guidance on creating similar campaigns.
During recess, Diamanti joins her eight students for a game of dodgeball at their school, which boasts stunning views of Evrytania’s rugged mountains. The children have gained a bit of local fame, as their birthdays are often celebrated in the village square.
Vassiliki Emmanouil, who moved to Fourna along with her six children — five sons and a daughter — describes the overwhelming kindness they have received from the community. Residents often leave food at her doorstep and have encouraged her to revive an abandoned bakery once her husband returns from work in Germany.
“I’ve been here almost three months and cannot claim to have faced hardships,” she shared. “The local priest and his family treat us like their own, and the entire village has rallied around us with both material and emotional support.”
The demographic downturn in Greece became evident in 2010 as deaths began surpassing births amid a harsh financial crisis, and the situation has worsened, with the birth rate nearly halved by 2022.
Responding to these challenges, the conservative government established a ministry for family and social cohesion last year, enhancing family benefits as part of their 2025 budget and seeking collaboration with the Orthodox Church.
In a circular issued by the church’s Holy Synod, which was read in every Greek Orthodox institution, it was emphasized that monetary incentives alone would not suffice to reverse the worrying demographic trends.
“Experts have proposed various measures to tackle this issue, given its profound social, economic, and geopolitical repercussions,” read the statement. “The church emphasizes the spiritual significance of family life, advocating for unity and love — where creating families reflects a divine purpose. Children, regarded as blessings from God, infuse life with meaning and symbolize hope.”
For the residents of Fourna, church congregation is also an essential aspect of revitalization. Although several nearby churches remain nearly abandoned for most of the year, they are well-kept and open for significant religious observations.
The recent rise in children attending church services and playfully roaming the previously quiet streets has surprised many locals.
“Initially, I doubted that families would choose to live here because it is a remote and small village with limited amenities,” recalled Giorgos Vassilikoudis, a local business owner.
“But I was pleasantly surprised to see new families moving in and their happiness,” he added. Vassilikoudis, who operates a restaurant and guesthouse, sees this development as beneficial for the village and encourages other communities to take note. “It’s an encouraging sign for our local economy and an inspiring example for neighboring villages.”
