The Observatory visited the island of Symi on Wednesday, 24/9/2025, and conducted interviews with the Mayor, Mr. Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, and the municipality’s social worker, Ms. Irini Petridi.
Initially, Mr. Papakalodoukas referred to the strong connection between employment and tourism, as the tourist season lasts almost 9 months, and most of the island’s residents work in the tourism sector. He emphasized that there is a significant staff shortage in the municipality’s services, especially in the sector of cleaning, as well as a lack of machinery operators at the Health Center, which is very important for the medical care of both locals and tourists. Additionally, he highlighted the importance the Municipality places on sports and the facilities available on the island for various athletic activities.
On her part, Ms. Petridi spoke about the educational opportunities provided on the island as well as the recent shift of young people toward sports. The challenges faced by the youth relate to the fact that they often work in fields different from what they studied, primarily turning to tourism, and the limited creative activity options available. Regarding mental health, she mentioned the lack of facilities and specialists, as well as the collaboration with Klima through online sessions. 
Finally, the Observatory would like to thank the Municipality of Symi for its cooperation and contribution to the research, as well as all the participants.
(Text and photos: Konstantina Kourkoumari, Theodora Symeonoglou)
