Sun. Mitsotakis: In all this effort we will stand by you

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the blessing ceremony at the Palagia Elementary School in Evros, which suffered severe damage from the recent fires but was restored in a record time of just 20 days, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was in attendance.

«We managed to succeed by working together— a small miracle: in just a few weeks, a school that was practically destroyed is once again opening its doors to our students and their teachers—better than it was before. And I would like, first and foremost, to extend my special thanks to everyone who worked so that we could be here today to perform the blessing ceremony at this school that you all love so much, the municipal services, and first and foremost the parents—who I know have gone above and beyond to make it possible for us to be here today,’ the Prime Minister emphasized in his remarks.

«I want you to know that we will stand by your side throughout this entire effort. And here, for the school, which will be much better than it was before,» said Mr. Mitsotakis, and continued: «In addition to what we’ll be doing at the school, we have a lot of work to do in the area surrounding the school. And I want to let you know that the relevant studies for the restoration of the area around Palagia are already underway. We have the budget. We’ve already secured the necessary sponsors so that we can immediately begin restoring the natural environment, and the erosion control projects that need to be carried out—and then, all together, we can help nature, which, I am sure, will very quickly do its part to make this beautiful place green again. We will, of course, do the same for the entire Evros region.».

«No matter how great the hardships may be, we never give up. We roll up our sleeves and rebuild—and make even better—what nature’s fury has destroyed.»

Referring to the floods that struck Thessaly, the Prime Minister said: «My dear children, teachers, and parents, today let our thoughts turn to another part of Greece that, unfortunately, is suffering even more than you have. In Thessaly, where, sadly, people have lost their lives, far too many of our fellow citizens have lost their homes due to a catastrophic flood the likes of which we have never seen before in our country.».

«But I want you to know that no matter how great the adversity, no matter how great the difficulties, we never give up, do we? Never give up. We always roll up our sleeves, we always look ahead with optimism, and we rebuild better—not just rebuild, but rebuild better—what nature’s fury has destroyed,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized.

In addition to the repairs, which were completed in less than three weeks thanks to funding from DEPA Emporia so that the school complex could welcome students and teachers on the first day of the school year, energy efficiency upgrades to the building are scheduled to take place in the near future, which will include the installation of a thermal facade and the replacement of window frames. At the same time, plans are already underway to build a gym and a library, among other projects.

Mr. Pierrakakis: Today, this school has become a symbol for the entire country

«The government has stood by you, and the government will continue to stand by you, as the Prime Minister said. And of course, this school today has become a symbol for the entire country, showing that after adversity, after difficulties, and even after disasters, we always manage to improve, we always become better, and we always manage to get back on our feet,» noted Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.

«Today we have the pleasure of performing the blessing ceremony at a much better, much more beautiful school than the one you left behind in June—and it will become even more beautiful,» said the principal of the Palagia Elementary School, Dimitra Vourdoglou, adding: «A big thank you to you, Mr. Prime Minister, who, with your special sensitivity and love for our Evros region, you personally and promptly provided a solution to the funding of our school’s restoration project.».

The event was addressed by Alexandroupoli Mayor Yiannis Zamboukis. The president of the school’s Parents and Guardians Association, Filippos Ketikoglou, thanked, among others, the government for the speed with which the restoration projects were carried out.

The Prime Minister's full address is as follows:

“My dear children, dear teachers, dear parents,

First of all, here’s to a great school year, with lots of smiles and even more optimism.

I wanted to be here with you today, in Alexandroupoli, in your village, to mark with my presence this new beginning that we are all called upon to make, following an extremely difficult summer—not only for Evros but for our entire country as a whole.

Indeed, Your Eminence, here we have succeeded, working together, a small miracle, as in just a few weeks a school that was practically destroyed is once again opening its doors to our students and their teachers—better than it was before.

And I would like, first of all, to extend my special thanks to everyone who worked so that we could be here today and perform the blessing ceremony at this school that you all love so much, the municipal staff, and first and foremost the parents—who I know have gone above and beyond to make it possible for us to be here today.

But I’d also like to extend a special thank you to DEPA Marketing and to its CEO, Mr. Xifaras, who, from the very moment I called him on the phone asking him to get the school up and running within a few weeks, managed to accomplish this, in collaboration with the Municipality, and that is why we are here today, able to perform this blessing ceremony.

I know, my friends, how much Evros has suffered this summer. I also know that it will take time to heal our wounds. But I want you to know that we’ll stand by your side throughout this entire process. And here, at the school, which will be much better than it was before.

From what I understand, kids, you want us to build another basketball court, right? A soccer field—we need that, too—a 5×5 field. So, let’s hear it—what else do we want?;

So, we have many plans for the school, and I want you to know that, in collaboration with both non-governmental organizations and the private sector, your school will truly become much better in the coming months. We’ve received many requests here. So, I’d like to ask all of you, kids, to get together, put them all in a nice letter to me, and tell me what else you’d like us to do at school—and we’ll make it happen.

But aside from the things we’ll be doing at school, we have a lot of work to do around the school. And I want to let you know that the relevant studies for the restoration of the area around Palagia are already underway. We have the funding. We’ve already secured the necessary sponsors so that we can immediately begin restoring the natural environment, carry out the necessary erosion control projects, and then, all together, help nature—which, I am sure, will very quickly do its part to make this beautiful place green again. We will, of course, do the same for the entire Evros region. We’ll have the opportunity to discuss these matters further later on.

In closing, I would like, my dear children, teachers, and parents, today let our thoughts turn to another part of Greece that, unfortunately, is suffering even more than you have. In Thessaly, where, sadly, people have lost their lives, far too many of our fellow citizens have lost their homes due to a catastrophic flood unlike any we have ever seen in our country.

But I want you to know that no matter how great the adversity, no matter how great the difficulties, we never give up, do we? Never give up. We always pick ourselves up, we always look ahead with optimism, and we rebuild better—not just rebuild, but rebuild better—what nature’s fury has destroyed.

A big «thank you» to all our teachers here in Palagia. Mr. Minister, the start of the school year is always a ray of hope, especially for our first-graders, who are coming to school for the very first time. But to all teachers across the country, a big «thank you» for everything they do and for what they will do.  We have very ambitious plans for how we will support them and how we will improve our schools as a whole.

And I want you to know, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Regional Governor, that I will be back here in your village to see the progress that will be made in the wider region as well as at your school. And very soon, I hope to be able to play basketball and soccer with the kids, once we’ve built the courts you’ve been wanting so much.

”Happy New Year, take care, and thank you very much.".

Reported by: Nikos Roumpos / APE