Thousands of villages around the world are facing the issue of depopulation and are threatened to be forgotten. Can a seemingly “dead” village be reborn?
Meet Eleni Mami and Haris Vasilakos, co-founders of the Vamvakou Revival project who have dedicated their lives to this purpose.
Representing an organization founded by a group of friends with strong ties to the village of Vamvakou, Eleni and Haris take the TEDxNTUA stage determined to their mission: to give new life to the village, based on its "memories" and history. Eleni Mami & Haris Vasilakos are both co-founders of the Vamvakou Revival, which was established in August 2018 with vital support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Their team’s mission is to breathe new life into the village of Vamvakou by fostering sustainable development. They seek to attract residents by creating jobs and improving living standards. Key pillars include tourism, innovation, agri-food, culture, and entrepreneurship.
The goal is to transform Vamvakou into a vibrant community, serving as a pioneering model not only in Greece but also internationally.
Eleni Mami, co-founder and Communication & Marketing Director, is a holder of a BA in Marketing and Communication and an MSc in Services Management from Athens University of Economics and Business.
Haris Vasilakos, co-founder and Events & Programming Manager, is a holder of a BA in Classical Studies from the University of Athens, a postgraduate student in Public Administration, and the writer of three books. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx