The President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, met with twelve women, ten Christians and two Muslims, who represent the Civil Society in Evros Prefecture.

“The Thracians have a reputation for virtue and strength and I want to hear from you, who live everyday life here, what Thrace is like today for a modern woman and what challenges it presents. I am happy and moved to be here”, said Mrs. Sakellaropoulou, opening the discussion, in the hall of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace in Alexandroupoli.

“We too are happy to know you in person”, the women answered her and expressed their joy and satisfaction because the President of the Republic is a woman and, in fact, a Thracian (from Stavroupoli, Xanthi), and they have the honor of talking with her.

In turn they introduced themselves and talked about their family situation, the way the mothers (some with many children) raise their children, the jobs they have, the activities they develop in culture or in other areas, their anxieties and thoughts.

They mentioned a series of difficulties faced by women in Evros. They raised the issue of unemployment, saying indicatively that women up to 40 years old, in their productive age, have no way out of employment and the place is declining.

Those who live in northern Evros noted that there the problems are greater and asked the state to show special care for their area.

Despite any adversities, they all declared their determination to continue with dynamism and move forward in new synergies to make things better in the place they live and love.

Through the dialogue, the dynamism of the women in question was highlighted and the optimistic message they sent was for a better future in the Evros region, through the new opportunities that are being created.

As they emphasized, an element that causes optimism is the development that has been observed in recent years around the port of Alexandroupoli and the energy transmission pipelines, and they expressed the hope that this will be reflected both in the economy and in other sectors.

They also described the ways and conditions under which, in addition to their employment, they undertake or participate in voluntary initiatives for the preservation and promotion of local tradition, as well as for the utilization of old buildings for cultural actions.

“We women can do a lot,” pointed out one of the women, with Ms. Sakellaropoulou assuring them that she takes strength from their example.

The President of the Republic was impressed by what they have achieved in primary production, self-government, education, culture and elsewhere and congratulated them.

Some of the women offered Mrs. Sakellaropoulou products of their own production.

The idea for the meeting came from the founder and president of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, Angela Giannakidou, who prepared it, was present, welcomed the women and moderated the discussion.