Women in Galatista, Halkidiki, decided to
beautify their village.
They painted with color old fountains as well as walls of houses that needed a make up. The result? A fresh, playful touch by the local residents.
Ten women, members of the local Culture Association of Arts Τhe Anthemouses, with the support of the Municipality, worked all summer painting the fountains of the village that were not made of stone.
The stone fountains were decorated with tins baskets that they had painted while staying in their homes during their lockdown, since the operation of the Association was temporarily suspended.
However, their action was not limited to the fountains. With the permission of property owners they they beautified two walls of old buildings in the village, which were in poor condition.
“Our Association was founded in 2010 and its goals are the promotion of our place, our cultural heritage and folklore as well as the implementation of artistic and cultural activities.
In this context, we had long ago made some proposals to the Municipality to beautify our village, which has several old houses that are abandoned and are collapsing, creating a bad image.
As part of the Municipality’s action, entitled “Environment is a responsibility for everyone”, we had painted tins, which were placed in Polygyros.
After the lock down was lifted beginning of the summer, the women proceeded with their project, the Municipality supported them by covering the material cost.
The first fountain to be refurbished was the one of Agia Paraskevi, followed by the fountains of Agios Dimitrios, Araklos, the Serbian, the Adeia.
“We are now painting the fountain of Papa-Manoli,” the president of the Association, Sonia Kazlari told state-run news agency amna.
As part of this action, which was “embraced” by the villagers, an old Galatista warehouse with a rusty door was transformed by painting into a house with a beautiful door, with a window with lace curtains and a bougainvillea on the side.
In addition, they beautified another wall of the village by painting a door and chairs on the terrace in front.
“We worked all summer in the heat, from 4:30 in the afternoon until the night. People were excited from the first moment, they were watching us while we were working and they were sending us treats. And that gave us strength,” Sonia Kazlari added.
Source: amna.gr, seleo.gr
and others
