That’s why Art Links Wishes 2015 (opening on Tuesday June 23 at 8pm at Gallery 7 in Kolonaki until July 3) is such a special collaboration. Art Links Wishes is a group art exhibition that showcases drawing, painting, photography and sculpture, donated by dozens of remarkable Greek and international artists, for the cause of Make-A-Wish Greece (Κάνε-Μια-Ευχή Ελλάδος). Proceeds from the sale of the diverse artworks will help illuminate the lives of seriously-ill children here in Greece through a precious moment of happiness.

‘As with all previous Art Links events, Art Links Wishes 2015 aspires to unite our community through creativity and art,’ says Art Links general manager Sia Corrina Durocher.

Here, three of the event’s exhibiting Greek artists share their own creative inner-worlds with Xpat Athens readers:

Hajiandreou was born in Rethymnon, Crete, and studied at the Athens School of Fine Art, where she graduated with first-class Honors. She has participated in many group exhibitions in Greece and abroad, and has given solo exhibitions at Gallery Ora, Gallery Apopsi, Gallery Dimito, Gallery Mylogianni Chania, Gallery 7 and the Cretan Museum of Modern Art, among others.

MH: That single moment when you discover that your painting shall produce something of true beauty; something that will keep your energy at full tilt right until its completion.

MH:I find myself returning to the human figure, and more specifically, the female figure. Over the years, I’ve worked in still life. My last exhibition consisted entirely of still life drawings. Before that I was fascinated by the gardens and enormous green houses of Scotland. But I always come home to the human figure. My current project has the female figure as its main theme.

MH: I wish I’d known how to present myself to the people in the art world better back then.

MH: Success means having evoked emotion in the viewer. The deeper they are moved, the greater you have succeeded.

MH: If someone from a private gallery in Barcelona or London specialising infigurative painting came knocking, well, that would be very nice.

MH:It’s the alpha and omega! If I’m not creating, I’m not living.

Piraeus-born Makris studied graphic arts at the Athenian Doxiadis Institute and later continued her studies in the United States and Scotland. She has worked as a cartoonist and illustrator for various newspapers and children's books and has also written books

for children. Her sculptures and paintings have been exhibited in group exhibitions in Greece and abroad. She has held twelve personal exhibitions.

AM: I often get angry at what is happening around me and so practicing my art becomes my personal "harbor", my safe haven. In order to create, I first have to empty myself of all the negative emotions and to become a child again, hopeful and carefree. If you cannot change the world, then change yourself. That is my motto.

AM: A clearly recurring theme in my work is that of women who exercise, women who flirt, women who get angry. Like an actor, I go through emotional states, through my sculptures, without even realizing it. Moreover, I like cats and seals and other animals as well. There is, however, a common denominator across all these forms: the curve.

AM: Self-knowledge. One cannot have too much of it, and the earlier the better. I also wish I were more daring in proposing ideas.

AM: Success, to me, is twofold. Firstly, you have to keep faith in your creative activity and, secondly, you have to be able to convince significant art venues to feature your artworks.

AM: A milestone in my career-path has been my solo exhibition at the "Zalokosta 7" gallery space, the first time I exhibited my work. 

AM: I am really fond of large-scale exhibitions, public spaces, and, also, art publications. In essence, I am looking to communicate via my work and I am keen to establish a connection with all those who become moved by my art.

AM: It takes dedication, isolation, persistence, and self-organization in order to express yourself through art. Art provides me with self-confidence and with the opportunity to become a better person through strengthening elements that give me joy and through avoiding elements that do not.

Massos was born in Athens where he still lives and works as a primary school teacher. In 2014, he graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts (painting) and his works can be found in private collections across Greece.

What is the most enjoyable part of the artistic process for you?

KM: When after a lot of effort and investigation, the artwork gathers shape and form in terms of the “place” of action, the “heroes” and their feelings.

KM: The central theme of my work is the man and the “place” both within him and outside of himself.

KM: I have learned to trust and believe in the value of the route that helps me to locate the “new thing or theme” – but which results from a prior knowledge.

KM: I consider successful the artist who manages via his artwork to communicate his feelings and is willing to express everything which takes place around him.

KM: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and curators like Hans Urlich Obrist and Klaus Biesenbach.

KM: Joy, communication, constant searching.

Chloe Akrithaki, Daphhne Angelidou, Marie Baha, Maria Chrysohoidou, Evi Feofanidou, Maria Filippakopoulou, George Hadoulis, Vassiliki Haloridi, Maria Hatziandreou, Anastasia Karvela, Nikos Kaskouras, Theophilos Katsipanos, Aggeliki Kokonaki, Mersa Konstopoulou, Giannis Kontaratos, Athina Latinopoulou, Kostas Lavdas, Aggeliki Makri, Konstantinos Mantzaris, Alexia Marouli, Konstantinos Massos, Eleni Mihailou, Tassos Missouras, Kleopatra Moursela, Afrodite Papadouli, Marina Papalabridi, ZachariasPapantoniou,Charikleia Papapostolou, Eleni Pehlivani, Elianna Prokopiou, Miltos Psaros, Chrys Roboras, Peter C. Seibit, Vasilis Skopelitis, Pigi Spyratou, Matina Stavropoulou, Fotini Stefanidi, Nota Tsitoura, Angelika Vaxevanidou

Gallery 7 is at Solonos 20 and Boukourestiou, Kolonaki.)

Story and interviews by: Amanda Dardanis

According to a survey released by GBR Consulting, occupancy rates for hotels in Greece are expected to rise at least 2 percent and 70 percent of Greek hoteliers estimate that room rates will improve by 2 percent.

Resort proprietors are expressing even greater optimism with 71 percent estimating occupancy levels will increase by more than two percent and 78 percent foreseeing price improvement of two percent and more.

According to the study, the positive momentum in terms of revenue will continue into 2018. Athens recorded improved figures compared to Rome, which marked a 0.6 percent rise over the year but behind Madrid, which saw an 18.4 percent increase in 2017.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

The European emergency number (112) has become fully operational in Greece according to a statement of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection. The control center for 112 in Greece is located at the fire brigade operations center in Chalandri and employs 100 people.

Each shift includes an OTE telecoms operator–who responds in Greek, English, or French–and liaison officers from the Hellenic Army, Greek Police, the Coast Guard, and the ambulance service.

Greece is undoubtedly one of the most appealing travel destinations, but amidst the Covid-19 crisis, the idea of a summer vacation in Greece sounds like an unlikely scenario! Or maybe not, according to Greek officials.

 

And that is because Greece appears to be a rare coronavirus success story. The safety measures and a strict lockdown was enforced very early, keeping the death rate extremely low compared to European countries.

 

This week, some small businesses–such as hairdressers and bookstores–were allowed to re-open for the first time after the long closure. This gradual lifting of the lockdown measures may be a model for welcoming back some travelers this summer, thinks Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

 

"The tourism experience this summer may be slightly different from what you've had in previous years," Mitsotakis told CNN's, Nic Robertson. "Maybe no bars may be open, or no tight crowds, but you can still get a fantastic experience in Greece – provided that the global epidemic is on a downward path."

However, opening up to tourism unavoidably means opening up to travelers possibly carrying the virus. Currently, every international traveler is screened for Covid-19 upon arriving in Athens; however, the Prime Minister is hoping for something more comprehensive such as global, or at least European standards that set the same travel protocols for all countries. "I would assume that people will be tested before they get on a plane, not after they arrive here. They can only get on the plane with a negative test, or with a positive antibody test," he said.

All going well, Greece will probably be able to start welcoming tourists by July 1.


To read this article in full, please visit: cnn.com

Embark on an audio odyssey of Athens with the podcast series, "We’ll Always Have Athens", and hear our legendary city beamed straight to your ears!

A city without stories is like a theatre without a stage. In Athens, stories are everywhere: whispered in ancient streets and mythical corners; imprinted on historic hilltops where the great philosophers held court; shared boisterously in the doorways and squares of this ever-changing modern metropolis. Welcome to a new 6-part podcast series where This is Athens invites stellar guests—who know and love Athens—to tell us their own tales of the city and what Athens means to them. Produced by the Greek Podcast Project, for This is Athens, tune-in each fortnight to capture the authentic essence of Athens today; a city that is so much more than the Acropolis.

Subscribe to “We’ll Always Have Athens” now on Spotify, Apple Music, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

“When I walk around Athens, the myths are still there,” says the great British author, comedian and Hellenophile, Stephen Fry. Follow Fry through the winding lanes and sacred temples of Athens as he awakens his three favourite myths about the Greek capital: from the legend of the great hero Theseus; to the birth of the fabled king of Athens, Erechtheus, and the showdown between Athena and Poseidon over patronage of the ancient citadel. In his trademark masterful style, the beloved raconteur also explains why the Athenian neighbourhood of Thissio claims a special place in his heart.

In the autumn of 2019, on a moonlit night high above the Aegean, Athens-born fashion designer Mary Katrantzou pulled off a Herculean endeavour. She brought her bold dream to life with a spectacular fashion show, staged at one of Greece’s most revered ancient wonders - the 2,500 year-old Temple of Poseidon. Head for Cape Sounion on the Athens Riviera with the Queen of Prints as she vividly relives her historic paean to Greek culture and style. Katrantzou also shares how Athens has inspired the eye-popping digital designs that have won her a legion of famous fans, from Cate Blanchett to Michelle Obama.

“I was brought up in Athens, though I like to say that Athens brought me up.” Few people know more about the hidden stories and forgotten corners of Athens than city rover and culture journalist Nikos Vatopoulos. Join him as he guides us through the constantly-evolving streets and neighbourhoods that make up the bright urban fabric of contemporary Athens to evoke a city beyond museums and monuments. An Athens that is complex, contradictory – and always surprising.

“Athens is definitely a character. She can be chaotic, rather pleasingly moody, never ever dull - and always unpredictable.” Victoria Hislop, author of blockbuster The Island, first visited Athens as a teenager, during the summer of 1977, and was captivated by the heat, the people … and feta. Since then the best-selling British writer has become an adopted Athenian and even has her own apartment here. Hear Hislop awaken a dramatic 20th-century Athens through the pages of her new novel, Those Who Are Loved, and share how the city continues to fuel her writing.

“There’s no way to stop photographing these monuments. Even if you’ve been photographing them for 60 years, as I have.” Few photographers have amassed such a weighty visual record of post-war Athens as Robert McCabe. The New Yorker began shooting our city in 1954 and has been returning ever since to capture its people, architecture and ancient sites with his signature nostalgia. Hear McCabe recall a golden age of Athens where there were no traffic lights – and he had free run of our mighty antiquities.

 

“The power of art is to heal - physically, emotionally and politically,” says maverick Greek theatre director Elli Papakonstantinou. For Papakonstantinou, theatre has no boundaries. She has reimagined Aeschylus at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria; and rebooted the myth of Oedipus in New York as an opera fusing neuroscience with traditional performance. Her calling card is to pluck stories from ancient Greek drama and root them in the now. Join this forward-thinking artist as she introduces us to Athens’ thriving theatre scene and investigates the enduring relevance of the Greek classics in speaking to our contemporary concerns.

 

 

After months of renovations, the Klonaridis - Fix park, located in the heart of Athens, has been transformed into a green oasis. Now, it is a fully sustainable urban park, designed according to international trends in landscape architecture and environmental design. 

Through the "Adopt Your City" program, Olympic Brewery and FIX Hellas have actively supported the Municipality's effort to turn the historic park into an aesthetically pleasing breath of fresh air that will significantly improve the capital's urban landscape. 

The Municipality's specialized crews carried out multiple renovation works, including the replacement of the park's pathways with permeable ones, the installation of new urban equipment (benches, garbage bins, etc.), the replacement of all street lamps with energy-efficient LED lights, and the restoration of the fountain. 

Based on a study by Ecoscapes, a landscape design company, in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Department of Athens, more than 4,500 pollution-tolerant Mediterranean plants were planted in the park. Also, a perennial meadow was created, something that hasn't happened before. 

On the southern part of the park, one will find a stunning biodiverse garden consisting of evergreen Mediterranean shrubs and aquatic plants surrounding the fountain. The lawn on the eastern part was replaced, making the area perfect for outdoor activities. Last but not least, watering cans and feeders were installed for all the birds living in the park.

The park's benches were designed by students from the AKTO educational group in the context of a wider collaboration with the Olympic Brewery, giving an artistic touch to the spaces.

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XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to This Is Athens and the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in.

Most people tend to think of Greece mainly as a summer destination, thanks to its countless beautiful islands and sun-drenched beaches. And while summer in Greece is truly unforgettable, the country is a year-round destination that shines especially during the shoulder seasons, spring and autumn.

With summer almost officially over, September is an ideal time to visit Greece. The weather is still wonderfully warm, the sea remains perfect for swimming, and the crowds begin to thin, making it a more relaxed and authentic experience.

Here’s a list of our favorite Greek islands to visit this September!

Hydra 


@georgeeptr

The cosmopolitan island of Hydra is the perfect weekend getaway, thanks to its close proximity to Athens. Upon visiting the island, it's like taking a journey back in time because there are no cars there, and people get around by donkeys! Among others, you will certainly admire nature, the neoclassical architecture, and the island's sincere authenticity. Hydra is also considered an ideal hiking destination, with a network of trails expanding over 80kms all around the island. 

Corfu 


@veronicasblondediary

Corfu may be a very popular summer destination (and rightly so!), however, it's much more atmospheric in early autumn. Imagine strolling around the Old Town, admiring the fortress, marveling at the charming Venetian and Italianate buildings, and sipping cappuccino while you are people-watching in the Spiniada square. Of course, don't forget to visit the Archaeological Museum! 

Syros 


@donzsy

Famed for its neo-classical architecture, Syros, the capital of the Greek Cyclades islands is a very charming place and it can be quite intriguing in September. With a lively student population, you can find bars and tavernas, live music venues, and gatherings that have more of a local touch at this time of the year. You can also combine your trip to Syros with a visit to the nearby cosmopolitan island of Mykonos! 

Rhodes


@libby1315

If you are interested in history and culture, then Rhodes is definitely the place to be! Spend the day wandering around the old town of Rhodes, a UNESCO-protected site and the oldest continually inhabited town in Europe! Make sure to visit the Acropolis of Lindos as well as the Anthony Quinn Bay for a breath of wondrous natural beauty. 

With all the challenges we are facing in the last couple of years children have an increased need to feel safe and secure. I’m not referring to material safety. In her book “Understanding Childrens’ Emotions,” Isabelle Filliozat talks about children’s need to have a sense of security.

How do you cultivate that? Children want and need to trust their parents. In order to feel this trust, they need to be certain of their parents’ personal power. Unlike what some may believe, however, being a strong parent has absolutely nothing to do with being dominating. On the contrary, strong is the parent who expresses their feelings and gives space to their child to do the same. I bet that’s a definition of the word “strong” you hadn’t thought of.

Whether pleasant or not, our emotions have names and it’s significant to recognize them. By doing so we accept ourselves just as we are. That’s how we start to trust ourselves and how we become trustworthy.

When we acknowledge our emotions, when we are able to name them, and learn to tolerate them without criticism or fear we strengthen our personality. We also understand that our emotions alone cannot destroy a relationship or a person and that makes us feel more secure.

More than often though we adults tend to hide our emotions and don’t talk about them. As a result, without realizing it, that’s exactly what we teach our children to do. And when our children misbehave we take it personally and punish them.

What I would recommend doing instead is to take a step back and think about what may be the reasons for that behavior. They may be fighting about a toy or screaming about ice cream but the question is what lies behind the surface. What may be the possible emotions they are suppressing – unknowingly sometimes – and why?

We, adults, need to learn to decode the language children use – something “grownups” forget easily – and allow them to feel what they feel. “I understand you” is a very useful phrase. For example, “I understand you’re angry but I love you the same.” This is how we can help them to avoid feeling guilty and to start calming down. Knowing it’s ok to express their righteous anger allows them to have a sense of their limits and at the same time helps to strengthen their identity.

Expressing their feelings, even by crying, is a therapeutic process. We must allow them to “talk” and give them the space to live emotionally. Because the contrary, suppressing their emotions, may alter their personality. And this doesn’t make us strong parents.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

Kalanda, the Greek tradition of singing Christmas carols, holds a unique place in Greece's festive customs. This age-old practice, celebrated on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and Epiphany, brings communities together through music, blessings, and cultural pride. 

The term "kalanda" originates from the Latin word “calendae,” meaning “the first day of the month.” This Latin term itself derives from the verb “calo,” which shares its root with the Greek verb “kaló” (καλώ), meaning “to call.” In Roman times, calendae marked the beginning of each month, and celebratory songs were performed to announce and honor the new lunar cycle. Over time, this tradition blended with local Greek customs, particularly those associated with the Dionysian festivals.

In ancient Greece, the tradition of “Eiresione” played a similar role. During harvest festivals, children would carry olive or laurel branches decorated with wool, fruits, and nuts. These branches symbolized prosperity and fertility. As they paraded through villages singing hymns, they received small gifts or treats. The Eiresione custom, with its themes of blessings and good fortune, is considered a precursor to kalanda.

With the spread of Christianity, these pagan practices were adapted to celebrate the nativity of Christ and the new calendar year. The kalanda we know today reflect this blending of ancient and Christian influences, becoming an integral part of Greek festive culture.

On the eves of Christmas, New Year’s, and on Epiphany day, children gather in small groups, often accompanied by simple instruments like triangles, drums, or lyres. They visit homes in their neighborhoods, singing carols that offer blessings and good wishes. In return, they are rewarded with small tokens such as sweets, coins, or fruit.

The lyrics of kalanda vary depending on the occasion:

When Stella Kasdagli co-founded Women on Top—now WHEN—she didn’t set out to build an organization. She just wanted to connect women with others who’d walked the same path. What started as a side project quickly grew into a national force for gender equality in Greece, supporting women through mentoring, training, advocacy, and now, with the WHEN Hub, an innovative space for working parents. 

In this conversation, Stella shares how her own journey as a journalist, entrepreneur, and mother shaped the work she’s doing today—and why stories, community, and compassion remain her most powerful tools for change.

I think that desire had always been in my mind, even if I couldn’t put it into words. Before Women on Top — which later became WHEN — I was a journalist working mostly for women’s magazines, like Cosmopolitan Greece. Through that work, I started to realize the breadth and depth of women’s needs, especially young women in Greece.

Back then, around 2005 or 2006, we often received handwritten letters from young women across Greece, even though email was available and many did email us. These letters contained questions these women felt they couldn’t ask anyone else.

Every day, our work revealed the many gaps in knowledge and opportunities women and girls faced, not only in the workplace but also in their families, schools, and universities. Personally, becoming a mother made me see how much harder it is to be both a working woman and a parent or caregiver. So, these professional experiences and personal insights made me want to do something to help.

Like I said, I was a young mother, having just had my first daughter, and I was traveling to London. There, I learned about a mentoring initiative in Britain run by the Prince’s Trust. They had gathered ten established entrepreneurs to mentor aspiring female entrepreneurs for free, for a year. I thought, what a great idea!

But I also wondered why only entrepreneurs? Because if you want to become an entrepreneur, often you already have some network, resources, maybe a degree. But many women might be working in other jobs — like a hairdresser, a teacher, or even be unemployed — and want to change fields or face challenges at work.

These women could benefit from mentoring that offers the unwritten, unspoken knowledge you can’t find in books; knowledge gained from another woman who’s been through the same struggles.

When I came back, I thought about how that could work here. I had no experience with entrepreneurship or nonprofits, but with my then co-founder who had strong HR experience, we decided to build a mentoring program. We started a Facebook group and asked women with at least two years of professional experience to send us their CVs and describe their challenges at work, so we could match mentors and mentees. That’s how it began, back in 2012. It took time to become an official organization and expand services, but that was the start.

I can actually give another perspective on that, because for many years, building Women on Top wasn’t something I saw as a business. It was just a side project, something I did voluntarily, pro bono. That went on for about four or five years.

Then two things happened. First, I left my job as a journalist and became a freelancer. That’s when I became aware of a different set of challenges around work-life balance, especially for freelancers and entrepreneurs who don’t have the support system or structure to work while their children are still at home.

That’s when the idea of creating a coworking space with on-site childcare came up. We realized that the Women on Top community could be the perfect platform to support such an initiative down the road. This encouraged us to keep growing and enriching the community.

At the same time, freelancing wasn’t fulfilling enough for me, and then MeToo happened, first in the US, then globally. Our understanding of gender equality and workplace challenges deepened. We realized we could do much more than just offer mentoring. We could provide empowerment workshops, consult with businesses on becoming more equitable employers, and create spaces like the one we have now.

Motherhood—and parenthood more broadly—has been the most transformative experience of my life. I used to assume it would put my career on hold, but instead, it gave me clarity, fresh ideas, and a deeper sense of purpose. My children didn’t slow me down; they motivated me. In fact, I truly believe I owe much of what I’ve achieved professionally to them. It wasn’t a one-time thing, it happened with both pregnancies.

Becoming a parent sharpens your focus. You develop what I call a “bullshit radar”. You stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. That’s why some women seem to lose interest in their jobs after becoming mothers: not because of motherhood itself, but because those jobs were never meaningful to begin with.

Parenthood, despite its challenges, can be a powerful driver for finding your true path. Even if you can't make big changes right away, you can take small steps toward the work that really matters to you.

Being a parent and an entrepreneur is a steep learning curve. I feel like I learn every single day. And the idea that you need to have it all figured out before becoming a parent? That’s a myth. The most important thing isn’t being “ready,” it’s being open. And if you are, parenthood will change you in the best possible way.

Honestly, I don’t think I ever fully do. It’s always a work in progress. One important thing I realized a bit late is that you need to get the foundation right first. You need to sleep well, eat properly, and take some rest. Only then can you go after all the big things you want to achieve. Sometimes we get so absorbed by our goals that we forget to take care of the basics. That’s something I learned the hard way.

Besides that, I don’t think you can ever have perfect balance, with everything neatly separated. At any point in life, you’ll have to prioritize what needs your attention most.

What really helped me was having a space where I can work and know my children are well cared for and happy. That support has been a huge boost in finding some balance. Our coworking space, WHEN Hub, has been running for about nine months now, and honestly, these have been the easiest nine months of my work life when it comes to balancing everything. That’s why we created this space, so other working parents can get the same support.

Both, actually. I’ve been privileged in some ways because I work as a social entrepreneur in a field that’s, let’s say, female-dominated: gender equality and female empowerment. For better or worse, these areas tend to be led by women. So I haven’t faced the same challenges as women in male-dominated sectors like tech or construction.

That said, in the beginning, when we weren’t sure where we were going or how fast to grow, we got caught up in the startup culture narrative that you have to scale quickly to be successful. That can be really disorienting, especially for social entrepreneurs, but honestly for any entrepreneur. You need to be able to set your own pace.

This is even more important for female entrepreneurs because many start their businesses later in life, balancing motherhood, caregiving, or even a day job alongside their venture. To manage all this, you need support, not only from yourself, but from your family, who must back your chosen pace.

Also, the entrepreneurial ecosystem should respect that diversity. It shouldn’t push a one-size-fits-all timeline or threaten to cut you off from funding or incubation if you don’t grow fast enough. I truly believe the funding and support systems need to adapt to different needs, especially for female entrepreneurs.

Q: Have you noticed any changes in the professional landscape regarding gender equality since you started your journey?

Yes, there have been significant changes, mostly in terms of increased awareness around gender equality and female empowerment. Back in 2012, even among my friends, what we were doing felt almost like a joke, people struggled to understand why it mattered.

That has shifted a lot. People’s perceptions have improved, even if their deeper understanding of the issues isn’t always fully there yet. But even a surface-level recognition of the importance of gender equality is a positive step forward.

Since then, we’ve seen many organizations emerge and companies take varying steps—some more effective than others—toward empowering women. There’s still a long way to go, especially with the current political and social backlash against gender equality worldwide. But overall, I believe society and the professional ecosystem are moving in the right direction.

It might sound a bit old-fashioned, but I really believe it’s important to have some professional experience before starting your own business. Developing a strong work ethic, seeing how things operate, understanding that professional relationships differ from personal ones, and learning how to manage or observe team dynamics.

Then, choose your own pace. You don’t have to grow your business in one year, nor do you have to wait forever to get funding or feel ready. It’s okay to combine your day job with your new business for a while.

Also, think outside the box. Often, women limit themselves to what they’ve seen other women do—which isn’t bad at all, since small businesses are important and fulfilling—but why not explore new, different ideas, even if you haven’t seen other women doing them?

And lastly, build your network. I know it’s hard, it can feel uncomfortable, and it takes time you may not always have. But investing authentically in your network is very important.

This has been the easiest phase in terms of work-life balance, but also one of the hardest in our entrepreneurial journey, since the WHEN Hub is something completely new for us and our community. It’s still a baby, but in just nine months, we’ve seen its incredible potential.

The hub was created with three goals in mind. First, to give our 11-person team a physical space after years of working remotely, a huge shift that’s helped us collaborate better, host interns, and engage more with volunteers.

Second, to support working parents and parent-entrepreneurs by allowing them to work while their children are cared for in the mini-hub. They can either pay a reasonable fee or apply for a scholarship if needed. This has helped many women — from students working on degrees to new mothers — find space, time, and support.

And third, to create a hub for other civil society organizations working on gender equality, inclusion, and support for underrepresented groups. We've hosted many such groups already, building connections and conversations that have been deeply meaningful.

We keep working on all our projects, including some exciting new ones, like supporting victims of sexual harassment and helping emerging and underrepresented writers. We also continue our ongoing work.

If I had to pick two main focuses for the next year, one is the WHEN Hub. It’s new for our community, Athens, and Greece. We want to raise awareness and show how this space can truly transform the lives of women, parents, and the community as a whole.

The second focus is on regional Greece. Since 2023, a big goal has been to move beyond Athens and dive into the needs and challenges women face in smaller communities, whether rural, tourist, industrial, or others. This work outside the city is very important and will keep growing.

I think storytelling is a huge tool we have to encourage and cultivate social change and awareness. I try to do that as a writer, but since I can’t write as much as I’d like, it’s not just about me. Even when two people from different backgrounds and with different agendas sit down and start talking about abstract issues or current events impersonally, they tend to get into conflict more easily than when they start sharing personal stories.

We live in a time where we need to transcend our own communities, kin groups, and close circles and keep connecting with people who are different from us. Stories are one of the most important tools to do that because they help us focus on experience and feelings. They help us see the human side of others, not just the differences.

Differences are important, and we shouldn’t hide or gloss over them, but storytelling lets us go beyond those differences. I feel this is very important today, to be able to connect beyond our divides.

Thank you so much for having us at the WHEN Hub — it’s been a pleasure to experience the space and hear your story in person.

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You can follow Stella on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected and follow the journey of WHEN and all the work still to come.

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