On Sunday, September 11 2015, the 10-days long Cultural and Social Contribution of the Armed Forces to borderline islands of the South Aegean, the centre and touchstone of which was the ship, and which was organised by the Ministry of National Defence, will be concluded with the return of the Hellenic Navy’s tank landing ship LESVOS at the Naval Station of Salamis.
It was a series of multiform events and actions, which started on September 3 2015 and was developed to the borderline islands of the South Aegean, Agathonissi, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Tilos and Astypalaia.
The entire organisation started off the previous months by the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and was accomplished in cooperation with HNGS, assisted by HNDGS, HAGS and HAFGS. The events were attended by the islands’ inhabitants and visitors, along with the personnel of the Military Units based on each island, as well as the ship’s crew.
Events and actions were developed during the ship’s stay at each island, the leading role in which belonged to 25 students from the Faculty of Music Studies and from the Faculty of Theatre Studies, of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Concerts and theatre activity (theatre games, story reading and more) took place, with the participation of elementary school students, while Students from the Athens School of Fine Arts offered paint and visual art workshops for the children of these islands. Moreover, local musicians and dance groups participated, presenting their own cultural traditions. It is noted that the Olympic Medalists Klelia Pantazi and Nikos Syranidis participated in the mission.
At the same time, a programme of preventive medicine was developed at the islands where the tank landing ship LESVOS anchored. The mission included a joint echelon of Military Doctors, in the context of the ongoing joint programme of preventive medicine, developed by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff for the islands’ inhabitants. Using the local infrastructure, they offered primary care and preventive medicine services during the ship’s stay at every island. More than 200 medical examinations and medical acts were performed during the mission.
With the aforementioned actions, many of which are pilot actions and aim at improving the quality of life, the Ministry of National Defence wishes to actively show its concern for the islanders and for the Armed Forces’ personnel, serving at our borderline islands. With the promotion of the Armed Forces’ cultural and social contribution, the existing bonds are enhanced, while a boost is given to the safeguarding and promotion of the local cultural tradition.
It is underlined that most of the cost of this mission is covered by offerings and donations. Moreover, eight (8) tons of food and cleaning products were offered to the local authorities, so as to be offered to those in need. They are offerings by caterings and cleaning products companies, which supply the Military Markets and the Military Markets themselves.
For the support of this initiative, the agents of the Local Government responded positively.
