SKIATHOS' CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

The environmental action "All together, a clean Skiathos" has been successfully carried out for 17 years, on the initiative of the Cultural Association "Skiathos".

 The action has been embraced by the residents of Skiathos, by schools, clubs and organizations, cleaning about 25 areas and beaches, many of them difficulty accessible. The benefit of the action is always multiple: the collectivity of the local community in the effort for a sustainable, clean environment; the environmental awareness built in the participants, especially the younger ones; the removal of the environmentally harmful waste from these areas and the sea, as well as the prevention of plastic pollution from nets; and finally, the recycling of the collected waste, integrating it into the circular economy. In parallel with the action, environmental education programs are planned every year with organizations such as HELMEPA and the Athanasios K. Laskaridis Public Benefit Foundation.

 The so called “cleaning week” is a product of good cooperation between young and old volunteers and local organizations, who every year are in the mood to organize and dedicate their time, their boat or their vehicles with the selfless purpose of a cleaner environment. It is estimated that in 2021 880 minors and 80 adult volunteers took part in the action, collecting over 4 tons of recyclable waste.

The action was implemented in 2021 with the co-organization of the Region of Thessaly, the support of the Municipality of Skiathos, the Port Authority and the Skiathos Hoteliers Association and with the participation of the environmental organization "Enalia".

Information:
Cultural Association "Skiathos": T.: 6947687852 / e-mail: [email protected]

The action is aimed at students, teachers, minors and adult residents of the island, local clubs and agencies.

The action has been implemented on the island of Skiathos for 17 consecutive years and lasts approximately 10 days each year, according to a predetermined daily intensive cleaning program by different agencies. In 2021, due to the sanitary conditions, the "cleanliness week" was changed to "cleanliness month" to facilitate the observance of the measures by the participants.

Voluntary action of participative cleaning of beaches and areas in Skiathos, with the participation of students, teachers, citizens, local clubs and agencies.

With the support of the Municipality of Skiathos, the co-organization of the Region of Thessaly and the participation of the Port Authority, Primary and Secondary Schools, local Associations (Greek Rescue Team/Skiathos Preparedness Base, local Skiathos branch of the Greek Guide Corps, EcoZin Skiathos Environmental and Cultural Association , Skiathos Women's Association, Skiathos Nature-lovers Trekkers, Skiathos Professional Water Sports Association, Skiathos DIving Center, etc.), volunteers and entrepreneurs.

The action takes place in Skiathos and includes at least the following beaches and areas of the island: Agistros, Elias, Mantraki, Kastro, Agios Panteleimonas, Lygaries, Kryfi Ammos, Siferi, Arkos, Lalarias, Agia Eleni, Stivoto, Aselinos, Lehouni Stream, Lake Agios Georgiou, Plakes, Pounta, etc., as well as underwater cleaning of the port of Skiathos.

During last year's action in the cleaning of 23 beaches, 10% of the population of Skiathos, 145 volunteers and 441 students participated in the cleaning of beaches and areas in Skiathos and the neighboring islands of Arkos and Tsougria.

Tonnes of waste are collected every year and an effort is made to recycle the plastic, as well as to reuse the large number of plastic mussel farming barrels for fire protection in forest areas.

The action is purely voluntary, with no benefit for the Cultural Association "Skiathos" beyond a cleaner island, the good cooperation of the local bodies and population for this purpose and the awareness of the younger ages about the environment and their island in particular.