The life of twenty-year-old Malama Yannow in Ai Stratis was like a novel. That’s how she wanted to describe it herself. He was born and raised in the only settlement on the island with 150 inhabitants, and everything was simple and beautiful, without worries. Of course, she remembers hearing from her summer guests that there were dances, martial arts, and other activities in Athens, and she was a little jealous that she didn’t have that choice. But even then he felt that growing up in nature was a gift. The school had very few students—only two in her class—but that meant they were all a group that grew up together. She was an excellent student and in high school she began to prepare for the Panhellenic competitions. He had to do tutoring (online) and this is because on the desert islands every year the appointed teachers arrive late, so the teaching of some school subjects can begin even in November. “When you’re getting ready for university, it’s too late,” she explains.

Her sister was already studying at Mytilini, so she understood that it would be very difficult (mostly expensive) for her parents to have another child at the university. Higher education may be public, but in reality it is not free. Her parents will have to maintain two houses in addition to their own on the island. Both fishermen by profession, Malama saw that they worked even harder than usual that year. Constantly sleepless, they became extremely restless when the fish were bad. At some point, she openly told them about her anxiety: maybe she would not be able to study. Even though they really struggled, they didn’t show it to her for a moment. She was told not to think about it anymore. All they asked her to do was very consciously choose what she liked and keep reading.

Shortly before graduating from the 3rd high school, the director of the school called her to his office. He knew she was well prepared and wanted to talk to her about the Pastra Cretonaxiosa team and the Seas of Excellence program they had launched on their island. “Last year, this team sailed from Lemnos to Ai Stratis and gave a scholarship to an outstanding student of our island. Do you want to apply too? he asked her. At first, Malama hesitated a little. “It was the first time in my life that I applied for something, but in the end I convinced myself that I had nothing to lose,” he says today.

At Ai Stratis Gymnasium, he taught in a class of two students. Parents are fishermen. Today he studies at the University of Economics.

In the interview, apart from her goals and dreams, she was also asked some specific questions: if she were to become the mayor of the island, what would be the first thing she would do? Or tell the news that made an impression on her. She does not remember the answers she gave – she was very worried – but she remembers the incredible relief and joy, but especially the joy of her parents, when she announced to them that she would receive 600 euros per month for 4 years of study. “Then I really realized how much they fought and how important this help was for them,” he says.

Her first year at the Athens University of Economics and Business (OPA) was spent online due to the pandemic, despite all this, she received a scholarship that she saved up. “I was lucky because I had time to adapt to the way the school works. If I came to Athens, it would be difficult for me to adapt to the lifestyle at the same time,” he explains. “Everything in the city was different for her and difficult at first. Rhythms, distances, how everything should be planned. In terms of studies, he had to get used to the fact that he was no longer … in the spotlight. “At school, I I was practically alone. Now I’m one of 300. If you share the professor’s attention, I’m not even 0.5%, “she laughs. In addition to financial assistance, receiving a scholarship for this program also allows her to feel part of a new group, such as she grew up in. “We’re all students from the desert islands. Even if we don’t see each other often, there’s an instant connection between us. Maybe because of our shared experiences. We see things the same way. At least it makes me feel less lonely in the city.

Last Tuesday he gave a lesson at the school and met fourth-year student Mario Mantzaris, also a scholar from Meganisi. In recent years, he has provided various advice to Malam about courses, faculty, and an internship he did through a fellowship program with the Boston Consulting Group (a leading consulting company that supports a specific program by evaluating applications, among other things). “This is a huge experience that we could hardly have had on our own,” he told her. She also hopes to work there this summer. Equally important are the mentors that each scholarship is associated with. Marios has George Provopoulos, a former governor of the Bank of Greece, with whom he often talks about his studies and everything that concerns him. “Yesterday he called me to ask how the exams were going. We’ll talk again when I’m done to discuss my summer internship,” he told us. Malama’s mentor is Eugenia Zannini, professor of law at the Polytechnic Institute and one of the founders of the scholarship program. “My parents, like my environment on the island, have nothing to do with the subject of my studies. The opportunity to turn to her for advice in the labor market is really priceless,” he explains.

“I make sure that my expenses do not exceed 150 euros per month”

For Irini Prasinu from Donusa, one of six children in the family, the financial support of her studies (philology at EKPA) was a relief. She lives in Athens with her brother and has a strict schedule so that her expenses are around 150 euros per month. The same goes for Malama, Marios, and the rest of the kids who spoke to “K”. They all try to keep their personal expenses below 200 euros per month, so that the scholarship covers along with rent and some bills. They explain that they rarely take coffee or food with them. They either cook daily or eat for free at school. They travel on a student card and with their groups mostly gather in houses.

The scholarship, explains Vassilis Manousakis from Furnos, who studies chemistry in Kavala, in addition to helping his family, allows him not to work during his studies and attend classes continuously. He, like other children, also has time to discover the opportunities offered to him in cities: museums, archaeological sites, theaters or cinemas. Or even travel outside of Greece, which was difficult when living on their islands (for some, simply leaving the island meant a 10-hour journey). So, for example, Marios managed to save some money, apply to the European Parliament and win a student travel card, with which he traveled by train around Europe.

Irene also enjoys all the opportunities that life in a big city gives her, but she realizes that she misses her island. “I did not expect this, but now I understand how unique Donussa is. I’ve always taken her for granted, ordinary, maybe boring, but in the end she’s unique. I know this sounds like an oxymoron, but in Athens, especially at night, I feel it’s more… aloof. On our island there is a sea, lights and if you go out at night there are 2-3 parties where everyone gathers. In a big city, you feel more alone.” She herself would like to return there, perhaps not immediately after graduation. but there she represents her life. Marios believes that now that it is possible to work remotely, he could stay in Meganisi. Although Malama loves her country, she does not think about it. He dreams of working in management accounting and knows that in Ai Stratis he cannot do it. And her parents, third-generation fishermen, prevent her from returning.
“It would be as if all the effort I put in was in vain,” he explains. Maria Swinou, who is studying archeology in Thessaloniki, also has no intention of returning to her island of Nisyros. But he keeps in touch with old classmates who also study in different parts of Greece, and was pleased to learn that most of them want to return. “The truth is that Nisyros will always be a guide for me too. When I get back there, I will remember who I was and who I would like to be,” he concludes.

34 fellows in 5 years

The Sea of ​​Excellence (excellenseas) program began with the idea of ​​Eugenia Tzanninis (lawyer and associate professor of law at the Polytechnic Institute) and Pastra Cretonaxios, the high seas swimming team to which she belongs (the name is inspired by Sotiris). Pastra, swimming champion and coach of a team whose members hail from Crete and Naxos). Mrs. Giannini, who grew up on Naxos, always remembered that some of her classmates who excelled in their studies could not afford to go to university. “These are the kids who fought to go to school. They make us proud that the need for knowledge tames the difficulties of the rough Aegean,” she said at a small celebration in Furnos in 2018. who travel the distance every day by boat to get to school. In the same year, the first scholarship was awarded to the only graduate of Ai Stratis. Today, five years later, they have 34 scientists who are financially supported by 21 companies and organizations.