Greek village seeks families to revive community

The village of Furna in central Greece is seeking new families with children. This settlement in Evrytania offers accommodation, jobs (at least for the husband), and funds for initial expenses in the new location.

A teacher and a priest from the Orthodox Church in Furna posted the announcement on Facebook. They encouraged families with children to move and enroll their kids in local schools. "The village in Evrytania is looking for one family (or more) with children who want to live here and enroll their children in local schools," the post said. The initiative aims to revitalize the village, which is situated at an altitude of 2,755 feet and surrounded by forests.

Local authorities' phones have been ringing nonstop since the announcement was posted. One family has already decided to move to Furna. A Greek couple with six children is leaving Germany to settle in.

"I saw the advertisement on Facebook, and when I discussed it with my wife, we immediately agreed to change our lives for the better. We decided to leave Germany, where we lived and had our jobs, and return to nature, which we love so much," said Stefanos Kostopulos to the portal Protothema.

Residents of Furna, involved in the initiative, report that they are expecting the arrival of two more families. Interestingly, over 100 families have expressed interest in moving to the small Greek town. They were drawn not only by the promise of a home and job but also by the opportunity to be close to nature, which is abundant here.

"Our village has come to life again. We started with two families, and now over 100 families are seriously interested in coming here. I am very happy. Last year at the blessing, I wanted to cry because I knew what would follow. At least now, our schools will be sustained. The authorities and the region have committed to helping us. In recent years, our village had become lifeless, and from 158 permanent residents, we dropped to 118 in three years. I hope we will grow more,” announced local clergyman Konstantinos Dusikos, the initiator of the campaign.