Report and photos by Edith Bühler Jud
The small spaghetti festival is preceded by two months of intensive cleaning work by volunteers in the village of Faros and its beach. Faros and the surrounding area is totally spruced up. Faros shines!
There are no papers, cigarette butts, rusty parts of old utensils, old cars or other rubbish to be seen.
Scratched legs are a thing of the past because the paths to sights and beaches are free of thorn bushes. Gone are the days when you were at a loss to find various beaches such as “Iero” or “Agios Georgios” near the Drakano defense tower or the “Frurio” (Italian fortress ruins from World War II). School classes have described and painted beautiful, colorful information boards so that tourists can find their way easily.
Evangelis Plakidas, my stepson from “Evon’s Rooms” in Faros is the extremely dedicated leader who had all the ideas and sacrificed a lot of time to motivate volunteers to help him achieve his goals. Thanks to Facebook!
Through this medium and through a lot of persuasion, the call went out to volunteers. In a very short time, an interest and fan group of over 800 members from all over the world was formed (there are many Greeks/Ikariots in Australia, Canada and the USA) who enthusiastically supported the idea of “Clean Faros”. Each mission was illustrated on Facebook with corresponding pictures and texts and triggered echoes of “bravo” and “thank you”. In this way, new helpers were constantly motivated and recruited.
A great story with a visible effect and hope for imitators
There is great hope that the spark will spread to other villages on the island!
The basic idea of Evangeli’s project is: “People, there is unemployment, we are in a crisis, many of us are demotivated and hopeless. Despite everything, don’t complain, do something! Let’s do something for our island, ourselves and tourism company!!!”
July 23, 2014 Benefits Macaronada for a “Clean Faros”
At 5 p.m., women and men gather in the community center. Some cut tomatoes, onions, peppers and cucumbers for the salad, others prepare benches and tables and set them up on the platia with a view of the beach and sea and the Fourni islands; plus Greek sounds, initially from the speakers.
From 6.30 p.m., it says on the posters that I and a friend put up on the trees and kiosk walls in Agios Kirikos and the surrounding area a few days ago, there will be macaronia (spaghetti with sauce) and a drink for €5. If you’re happy to give more you are cordially invited to do so.
All restaurants in Faros deliver ready-cooked spaghetti with tomato sauce at a staggered time and at your own expense. Around 400 portions are delivered.
Young, volunteer musicians accompany the beautiful evening on the Platia and create a great atmosphere. The considerable proceeds will be used to pay the person who will be responsible for keeping the beaches and paths clean all summer long.
This is how you show a sense of responsibility! This is how you create jobs! That’s how you win! This is how you are stronger!