February 2022
The first shipment of the year 2022 has been completed!
A few words about Kastanousa, Serres
Historical sources mention the settlement Ano Kastanousa in 1913, when it was liberated during the Second Balkan War. Until 1926 the village was named Palmes. The construction of the railway network and the station, as well as the construction of the road network forced the residents to relocate at a lower location.
The village is found on the foot of the Mpelles mountain, in the borders with Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The green landscape and the beautiful trees have been an attraction point for visitors from the big urban centers.
Apart from the elementary school there is also a kindergarten and the Cultural Association of Pontus. The Holy Orthodox Church of Saints Konstantinos and Eleni is dominant in the green square of the village.
The village is renowned for its “AVGOMACHIES” (meaning “egg games”). The tradition goes back to the Greek Pontus, in the Black Sea, and symbolizes Christ’s Resurrection, and the collision of good and evil. It takes place on the second day after Easter Sunday.
The village is part of the Municipality of Sintiki
A few words about the Elementary School of Kastanousa
Accordiing to the archives, the school was built in 1963. Since 2002, under the Official Governmental Gazette 992/B/31-07-2002, it operates as a four-class.
The school has four rooms of teaching, an event room, and a small indoors gym. The school’s yard has covers about four stremma of land.
Until the school year 2019-2020, the number of the students used to exceed 30. Since the school year 2020-2021 it has been operating as a two-class.
This school year, 2021-2022, 15 students attend and four teachers serve at the school. However, according to the registered data, there is going to be an increase of the student numbers from the following year.
The Ecumenical Hellenism Foundation implemented the eleventh shipment to the faraway school of the Kastanousa. Specifically, it sent:
- 3 Laptops
- 1 Projector
- 50 books for the circulating library of the school
The total value of the material sent amounts to 1,800 euros.
For the purchase of the items sent we specially thank Mr. Dimitris Gkounelis for his kind donation, as well as the Ecumenical Hellenism Foundation’s supporters.
This is how we, at the Ecumenical Hellenism Foundation, envision Greece of the 21st century 200 years after the Greek War of Independence. Along with all of you, we give a boost to knowledge, we support new generations in order to constitute valuable citizens for our country’s future, and we set the example of effective solidarity and social sensitivity for the prosperity of our homeland.
We express our gratitude to you for the support of our activity and we invite you to move forward to the expansion of it to all the outermost schools of Greece.
You are our power!
