Desmos for Youth – Northern Evia

From our very first visits to Northern Evia following the devastating wildfires of the summer of 2021, it became clear that, beyond the immediate recovery needs, there was another major challenge: creating opportunities for the region’s young people.

Through our discussions with local residents and community organisations, we identified not only the need for new employment opportunities, but also the importance of strengthening civil society organisations so they could play an active role in the recovery and sustainable development of Northern Evia.

Thus, for the first time, the “Desmos for Youth” program was designed with a specific geographic focus, and was implemented in Northern Evia from July 2022 to April 2024. The program was implemented with an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of the SNF’s Northern Evia Support Initiative.

The program pursued two main objectives: creating new employment opportunities for young people up to the age of 40 who either live in or wish to remain in the region, and strengthening local civil society organisations by helping them expand their activities, develop new partnerships and contribute actively to the social and economic development of Northern Evia.

As part of the program, eight new 16-month positions were funded across eight local non-profit organisations: Rancheros, Papades Cultural Association, “Ippeas” Commercial & Professional Association of Pefki – Artemisio, D. Ch. Settas Museum of Folk Art and Rural Life, PAS Olympiakos Limnis, Stagones Social Cooperative Enterprise, EVENTures, and Free & Real.

These positions covered a broad range of sectors, including environmental protection, animal welfare, sports, education and children’s creative activities, culture and local heritage, sustainable development, tourism and local development, volunteering and social solidarity, as well as agriculture, the processing and promotion of local products.

Alongside employment, the program invested in collaboration, capacity building and networking among participating organisations. In total, 124 events and activities were organised, eight training seminars and educational sessions were delivered to program participants—including three tailored one-to-one sessions—and 29 joint initiatives were designed and implemented collaboratively by the participating organisations. In addition, 17 schools took part in program activities, while partnerships were established with 24 additional associations and organisations, beyond the eight participating organisations.

Beyond the numbers, the program’s greatest achievement was the creation of a stronger network of local organisations and people who collaborated, exchanged knowledge and developed new initiatives together. It demonstrated that investing in employment and strengthening civil society can become a powerful driver for the long-term recovery of a region affected by a major natural disaster.

The program’s impact was further documented through an independent Impact Αssessment conducted by Deloitte, completed in May 2025. Τhe assessment demonstrated the program’s strong economic multiplier effect: for every €1 spent on programme operations, €8.6 was generated in the Greek economy, resulting in €239,920 in total economic output.

This finding confirms that targeted employment initiatives can accelerate local recovery and create measurable value for both society and the economy.

You can read the Impact Αssessment here and watch the program’s documentary video below, where the participants themselves share their experiences.