The sixth issue of the inter-island school newspaper “Desks in the Aegean” is dedicated to sports and captures the concerns, dreams, and experiences of students from seven remote islands: Agios Efstratios, Fourni, Lipsi, Nisyros, Kasos, Astypalaia, and Amorgos. With the support of the NGO “Regeneration & Progress,” and the continued journalistic guidance of iMEdD, the students explored the concept of sports in places where facilities may often be lacking but passion never is.
Among other things, the students highlighted inequalities in access to sports across Greece’s island regions. In Fourni, for instance, there are no sports facilities, teams, or clubs. Students movingly describe how they prepare on their own for entry exams to military academies and departments of physical education and sports science, without fields or coaches. “I know I have to work harder than others but that makes me stronger and more determined to reach my goal,” says Vasiliki, a senior in high school.
In contrast, on Astypalaia, a hiking group with the playful name To Pardalo Katsiki (“The Spotted Goat”) organizes weekly excursions, combining physical activity with a deeper understanding of the island’s history and traditions. On Lipsi, girls are making their presence felt on the football pitch through the A.O. Lipsi football academy, while other students share their experience taking roller skating classes, proving that athleticism can flourish even in challenging conditions.
Nisyros stands out with a feature on the island’s K12 football team, Polivotis, and a revealing interview with their coach, Manolis Chasaplakis, who emphasizes the importance of teamwork.
In Kasos, the past and present of sports come together through an interview with a retired goalkeeper–now local priest—and through the work of PE teacher Margarita Kampouri, who, as part of the Sports Paths program, offers alternative forms of physical activity to residents of all ages.
Alongside the sports coverage, the students of Amorgos tackled a different but equally powerful subject: their recent experience with earthquakes. With sensitivity and personal accounts, they documented moments of fear, community solidarity, and how they experienced the natural disaster as children, blending observation with journalistic storytelling. As they write: “The island was declared in a state of emergency…All our activities stopped; football and even the Sports Paths program.”
Finally, special mention must be made of the students from Agios Efstratios, who were awarded 1st Prize in the MOTTO category of the competition organized by the Hellenic Olympic Academy.
