Consecration of the 1st and 3rd Kindergartens of the Municipality of Palamas Karditsa, which were repaired after the damage caused by the bad weather “Daniel”, took place today in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, who emphasized that the new schools are better than those that were operating before the natural disaster.

Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food and MP of Karditsa, Kostas Tsiaras, the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Dimitris Kouretas, the Deputy Regional Governor of Karditsa, Konstantinos Telios, the Mayor of Palamas Sokratis Daskalopoulos, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Thessaliotidos and Phanariofersalon, etc , the President of the Greek Union Melina Travlou, the Chairman of the Board of Shipowners of “Building Infrastructure SA” (K.M.P. S.A.) Timoleon Katsipos and the Managing Director of K.M.P. S.A. Athanasios Giannaris.

As the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport pointed out, “when the natural disasters hit Palamas a year ago, the first priority of the Government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was to restore everyday life in local communities, starting with the schools, starting with the children us”.

Mr. Staikouras thanked the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association, which covers with a donation of more than 30 million euros the rehabilitation interventions in 33 schools in Thessaly and Fthiotida, as well as the Building Infrastructures S.A. and the contractor for the completion of the works in the two kindergartens, two months earlier than the contract stipulated.

He added that by the end of the year, the 1st Primary, which was joined by the Shipowners’ Union in the overall contract, despite the fact that it was damaged before the bad weather “Daniel”, will be completed.

Concluding his statement, Mr. Staikouras added: “It is very important to make the daily life of citizens better. A young couple wants to settle in the countryside, as long as they have better school facilities for their children – and we do – have better health services – and very recently we found ourselves at the Palamas Health Center – and have quick access to Athens – and the we did with the E65”.

The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Ms. Melina Travlou, thanked all the participants for their contribution to the timely realization of the projects and emphasized that:

“From the first moment of the crisis, we drew up an action plan to support Thessaly. An integrated plan named in honor of “Agios Nikolaos” and embraces three fields of offer: Education, Culture, Health.

We consciously started with Education, specifically with the restoration of the damages in all the schools, a total of 33, that were affected, as well as their upgrading, where necessary.

As a Greek navy, we have always placed – both individually and collectively – Education and the new generation at the center of our contribution to the homeland.

Having visited the affected areas, I have observed all stages of rehabilitation and upgrading of schools. Our goal has been achieved. We are proud to hand over to our children, the future of our country, their best and most modern schools. These ornaments. There is no greater emotion than the smiles that, today, we see painted on the faces of children. And I wish from the bottom of my heart that our children are happy.”

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Timoleon Katsipos, stated:

“Here where a year ago, the place experienced an unprecedented disaster and hopelessness and despair prevailed, today hope is born again.

In two schools of Palamas Karditsa, happy children’s voices are heard again. It is with great pleasure that we hand over the 1st Kindergarten and the 3rd Palamas Kindergarten, not only fully restored from the disasters, but also significantly upgraded, both aesthetically and functionally. We are grateful to the Union of Greek Shipowners, whose donation allowed us, in close cooperation with the Minister of Infrastructure, to implement the great project of restoring the School Units that were affected.”

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Timoleon Katsipos, stated:

“Ocean shipping always sails next to the homeland. We thank the Union of Greek Shipowners for the large donation. We, Building Infrastructure SA, are and will be everywhere, wherever and whenever needed.

Because we all know that with strong infrastructures in education, our country is stronger and through the eyes of its children it looks more optimistically at its future”.

Additional information:

The two Kindergartens that were restored, the 1st and 3rd Kindergartens of the Municipality of Palamas, were delivered two months earlier than the original forecasts, offering a modern and safe space for the children.

A project implemented by “Building Infrastructure SA”, an agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

The schools that accommodate, today, the young students of Palamas are better than the ones that existed before the disaster.

They have, among others:

· External thermal facade.

· Insulation on roofs.

· Integrated Lightning Protection system.

· Photovoltaic systems.

· New frames.

· New high energy efficiency units for cooling and heating the premises.

· Certification of all electrical installations.

· New sanitary facilities.

· Modern room equipment.

· Upgrading the courtyard area with restoration of accessibility.

· New playgrounds.

In both schools, the 1st and 3rd Kindergartens of the Municipality of Palamas, works were carried out that cost over 800,000 euros.