Visiting Anavra...

Details

Published on Monday, 15 April 2013 00:16

Written by Super User

The number of schools of all levels and associations that recently have visited Anavra has grown significantly. Their goal is to get acquainted and confirm what they hear and watch on television and the Internet, or what they learn from the newspapers about the work that has been done here and to see up-close this shining example to the bleak financial times that we are living.

A second fundamental reason -especially for schools- is to visit and become acquainted with the Environmental Cultural Park “GOURA”, where children can get in contact with nature in all of its forms: vegetation, animals, water, soil and the timeless use of all these.

Since the beginning, schools from Almiros city, Nevrokopi-Drama, Keratea-Attiki, the Lower Nevrokopi-Drama, Iolkos-Magnesia, Pefkohori-Chalkidiki, Kalampaki-Drama, Ptolemais have visited our village. have said they will visit us An organization for the recreation of senior citizens from Kolindros and Eginio-Pieria, and also schools of Sparta, Agria-Magnesia, Paliouri-Chalkidiki, Florina, Volos, Larissa have also scheduled to visit Anavra. On the Activities section you can see a list of the schools, clubs and other organized groups that have visited Anavra, where we post more information (in Greek for the time being).

It should be noticed that those visits are organized by our Voluntary Organisation ANAVRA-ZO as follows:
You should first send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us by telephone to determine the exact date of your visit. Upon arrival of the group (school, club, etc.) in Anavra, an informative speech is performed by the President of ANAVRA - ZO and former President of the Community of Anavra, Dimitris Tsoukalas. Various images of projects that have been done in the village are projected, most of which are green development projects during the speech. The speech is followed by a visit to the Folk Museum, which, in sequence, is followed by a tour of the park with the escort guide. In most cases, the visit is being concluded with lunch where guests enjoy the delicious organic meat of Anavra.

You can download the full list of the visits by clicking here.

Tour visits start again in Anavra Magnesia

Details

Published on Monday, 22 October 2012 22:43

Many organized visits started again after the summer break from groups and associations in our village to learn about the "phenomenon of Anavra Magnesia", see the projects up close and browse through the unique Environmental Cultural Park “Goura” and Folklore Museum of Farming Life.

Last week we welcomed a 25-member group of mayors from Cyprus (10/04/2012) and on Sunday (07/10/2012) the central square of the village flooded with 3 buses carrying members of two clubs from Karditsa Marathea and members of Union Veterans of the Scouts Ampelokipi Thessaloniki. Furthermore, the recent visit of Anavra had another purpose: after standard briefing by Dim. Ch. Tsoukalas former President of the Community of Anavra Magnesia and President of ANAVRA-ZO, the Old Scouts of Ampelokipi rewarded the work of Mr. Tsoukalas and his wife, Machi Karali, volunteer Technical Advisor of the Community. The award was a plaque and they were both nominated honorary members of Union.

As usual, after the briefing the organized groups (associations, schools, etc.) visited the park with the escort guard of the park, and then tasted the delicious organic meat in taverns. They all left with the best impressions.

It should be noted that, so far, 174 organized groups, apart from individual visitors, have visited Anavra with a total number of 8248 people.

It should once again be emphasized that the voluntary organization ANAVRA-ZO, despite the difficult period of the economic crisis, will do whatever they can to maintain the projects that have been done here and, if possible, to evolve them even further. The abolition of the “Kallikrates” law and the inclusion of the Community of Anavra in the municipality of Almyros were disastrous for our community - a Community with the largest growth in Greece - in a time when the economic cutback of Local Government Organizations is great.

We are available to all organized visitors to our village (schools, clubs, environmental organizations), by contacting us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Anavra on international media

Details

Published on Thursday, 05 July 2012 10:40

The case of Anavra in the middle of crisis continues to preoccupy the media. Especially lately has troubled the European media, which they do a story on the economic crisis in Greece make reference to Anavra as a positive signal of operation and development.

On 13.06.2012, four days before the elections, the BBC television crew was in Anavra to record the political movement in a remote but well-known place of Greece. Head of the group was the reporter PAUL MASON who was accompanied by a cameraman and two other women journalists, and who facilitated the communication with the residents of Anavra. The story (for the show “Newsnight”) that made was related to the development of Anavra and current issues surrounding the elections.

An interview of the Chairman of ANAVRA-ZO (and former President of the Community of Anavra) Dimitris Tsoukalas has been broadcasted on 14.06.2012 by the German State Radio (ARD Bayerischer Rundfunk www.br.de), which has been conducted by the journalist Alkioni Karamanoli.

Furthermore, journalists of European newspapers located in Athens, on the occasion of the parliamentary elections of May 6th, visited Anavra to see the work carried out here and to interview Dimitris Tsoukalas. Specifically on Saturday, April 28th 2012 a group of Dutch newspaper journalists (NRC.NL) led by MARLOES DE KONING arrived at Anavra, and on Sunday, April 29th 2012 another group led by journalist MARIA JOAO GUIMARAES the newspaper PORTUGUESE PUBLICO (www.ublico.pt) visited our village. They paid much attention on the development of Anavra and the green development projects that have been implemented; there was also great interest from their side for estimation of the President regarding the election results.

Foreign television networks have also shown great interest on Anavra. A Danish crew on 27.01.2012 of State TV (Link: http://dr.dk/nyheder) under the reporter JAKOB ILLEBORG came to Anavra to interview Mr. Tsoukalas. The next day on 28.01.2012 a crew from Austrian television (OSTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK http://ORF.at) led by journalist MAG. BURGIT BOCK came in Anavra to perform a documentary on Anavra and interview Mr. Tsoukalas. The shots from Anavra have already been posted online (link: http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/1328-Weltjournal)

It is worth to notice that Anavra was in the past the spot of reportages and displays on the following international media:

• On 14.10.2011, on the show “The World” (www.theworld.org). It is the international co-production service between BBC (World Service) and American Public Radio Public Radio International (PRI), by the journalist CLARK BOYD.

• On 27.09.2011, on the U.S. digital channel ELLOPIA TV ASTORIA USA, (www.ellopiatv.com ) by the journalist ATHINA KRIKELI.

• On 08.04.2010, on the NTDTV (www.ntdtv.com satellite independent, non-profit channel that broadcasts in America, Europe, Asia and China), by the reporters ELIAS PAPAIOANNOU, GEORGE TZOKAS (link: http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_europe/2010-10-29/146053197629.html

• On 25.05.2009, on DEUTSCHE WELLE TV (DW-TV, www.dw-world.de), by reporter MILTIADIS ARSENOPOULOS.

Yet another award for the work of Anavra

Details

Published on Thursday, 28 June 2012 22:53

On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, a day dedicated to the environment, Anavra Magnesia was honored once again to the persons of DIMITRIS CHR. TSOUKALAS, President of ANAVRA-ZO, former President of the Community of Anavra and initiator of all the work that has been done here, and his wife MACHI KARALI, Technical Director of the Community without fee all these years.

He was awarded with the "LIFETIME WORK 2012" award given in OIKOPOLIS Awards for Environmental Sensitivity of the Voluntary Organisation for the Urban Environment ECOCITY (www.ecocity.gr).

The awards OIKOPOLIS Environmental Sensitivity (www.oikopolisawards.gr) is an institution that was established in 2005 by the Voluntary Organisation for the Urban Environment ECOCITY. The aim of the awards is to recognize and reward the environmental sensitivity and the contribution of Scientists, Institutions, Local Authorities, Business and Media. The institution was enriched in 2006 with the award for lifetime work and the first person awarded was Niki Goulandri.

The ceremony took place at the House of Literature and Arts of the Onassis Foundation, a contemporary bioclimatic building in a great hall, one of the best available in Athens. The event was well organized, in a place with distinctive decoration. It was creatively directed, well presented and accompanied with songs by the choir of New Smyrne High School Lycée. It is worth noting that all the work has been coordinated by volunteers. Even the prize, which was a small sculpture made from recycled aluminium, work by a laboratory group of Technological Institute of West Macedonia.

Receiving the award, Ms. Machi Karalis said she believed the prize was not awarded "to the woman who is always behind a great man" (!) but to the person who has been a key partner in this effort without material reward and without having origin from this village. And even more to the scientist and teacher who believes that knowledge and experience has to be returned back and shared with the community, without ulterior motive and reward. She said: "The journey was not easy, it had many problems, obstacles and difficulties. What prompted us, however, to this project was the strong desire to offer where there was need. The message from this story is to offer wherever and in every way you can to your neighbour, your fellow citizens,-something that we need so much especially now in this very difficult time for Greece. "

Mr. D. Ch. Tsoukalas, when replying, he said he feels great pleasure because he is honoured by volunteers with an award that has reference to the environment, but also because his wife and collaborator over the years is being honoured too. He stressed that: "We went in Anavra and worked as volunteers through a public operator. We were carrying as supplies as volunteers, our sensitivity to the environment, vision, interest and appetite for work, love and passion. We went to give and not to take back and we were placing the public interest above our personal benefit. "

Then said the Anavra became known for two main reasons, the big growth (amongst the first places in Greece) but also for environmentally friendly projects (Wind Farm, Environmental Cultural Park, and two, small hydro-power and district heating in progress). Finally, after referring briefly to the work that has been done in Anavra, he concludes his brief speech with the following:

"It's true that I am glad that my village took this publicity thanks to the work that has been done there, but I feel disappointed that there are no other examples like Anavra although they should and could. Because Anavra, except from a place of prosperity in Greece is also an example that when you want you can achieve what we everybody sometimes considers impossible and impractical. You just need to have, apart from skills, vision, interest, desire, faith and love for what you do. And yet:

Be honest and hard-working

Do not aim at your personal benefit and in your personal advancement. Do not be concerned about the political cost.

Do not serve any party space but working for the welfare and benefit of all your fellow citizens and country

I am optimistic that Anavra leads the way. If Anavra was able to regenerate, the same can happen for Greece, as long as those who will elect in a few days have the will to solve the problem and are determinate to put the interests of our country above their personal and partisan interests."

To the visitors of the Park and Anavra

Details

Published on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 11:15

We inform you that from the new year and on, there is a guard/tour guide in the “GOURA” Environmental and Cultural Park of the springs of Anavra, who is responsible for the cleaning, maintenance, the protection of the park in general and the guided tours for the visitors.

Organized groups of visitors of Anavra (schools, environmental groups, associations, etc.) who wish to visit Anavra in order to learn about the work that has been done here by Dim. Tsoukalas, former President of the Community Anavra or another member of the company, and want to be shown around the park, should send an e-mail to us ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), or if it is not possible, to send a fax (++30 22320 91204) or call Mrs. Machi Karali (mob. ++30 6974 766 101).

The arrangement in prior is necessary for timely and better organizing the visits. Our goal is our voluntary supply to be as efficient and productive as possible for both guests and the location.

Letter to sponsors

Details

Published on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:45

Anavra October 2011

Dear friend of Anavra

In this very difficult situation for us, we turn to you and ask you to help as much as you can, in order not to be wasted all the work that has been done here in recent years and has made Anavra known not only in the region and Greece but also abroad. Anavra today more than ever, is a bright spot, a lighthouse, a hope and an optimistic message that if we want, we can do it, we can go ahead. This hope must not be lost, must not be extinguished.

The difficulties we are facing are many. Due to the economic crisis, which provides zero funds for projects, due to the catastrophic for the local Government law of Kallikrates which deprived Anavra of an autonomy and self-managing of its sources community, and finally due to how the City of Almiros governs, which is no different than the prevailing majority of Greek cities.

In this situation we did not stay and will not stay with crossed hands. We faced much more or less difficult situations when Anavra was a forgotten mountain farming village with muddy streets and animals to move throughout them. But we did it. The Community of Anavra had in the last 12 years, the highest growth among all local communities and with environmentally friendly projects such as wind farms, Environmental Cultural Park, a small hydroelectric power (in auctions), district heating (full study). Now, as ordinary citizens, we created a non-profit company "ANAVRA-ZO. VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION OF ANAVRA MAGNESIA FOR ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND CULTURE» (www.anavra-zo.gr) in order to help in any way this place to remain alive, to continue to lead by example and even evolve against and in spite of times.

In this effort, we want your help, financial and any other. You can, if you want to deposit any contribution to the following account:

COMMERCIAL BANK ALMIROS account. 308 88068 220
EMPORIKI BANK Branch 308 ALMYROS MAGNESIA,
IBAN: GR04 0120 3080 0000 0008 8068 220

Thank you very much and be certain that the money will be used for good causes

Permanent installation and employment in Anavra

Details

Published on Monday, 09 January 2012 16:23

It is a fact that in recent years with the great publicity that has received Anavra Magnesia, we accept many e-mails and phone calls from people who are frustrated by city life, who want to settle in our village and work here. But we must inform anyone who cares about that, that Anavra is a purely farming village that has no relation to the traditional villages of mountain Pelion.
It remains to add that it is difficult to find homes (for purchase or rental) that are suitable for a comfortable life but there is a list of properties available for sale.

As for the matter of employment, of course, a certain profession is that of the farmer. Beyond that, the small community of Anavra (500 approx. residents) and visitors (especially on weekends and holidays) be in need of some services and shops, which do not currently exist. Besides of an oven and a mini market, which are already operating, someone could open a shop with local products and other types of touristic shops and perhaps a hairdresser and a petrol station.
Because many are asking how they can become citizens of Anavra, the condition is that the person is a resident for two years and states as its business address Anavra Magnesia to the tax office of Almiros city.