+πλευση (SYMPLEYSI) is a Non-Profit Civil Society founded in 2014, with the aim of supporting and improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of the Greek outlying islands. Purely voluntary in nature, the association organizes actions throughout the year with the aim of making the maximum possible contribution to the Greek outlying islands. In order to support the inhabitants of the Greek outermost islands, the Assembly focuses its actions on three thematic pillars:

• Provision of free medical examinations

• Implementation of infrastructure projects

• Educational and Cultural actions

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The team consists of volunteer doctors and nurses of all specialties and health professionals, but also volunteers from all sectors and professions, such as lawyers, economists, teachers or professionals of all kinds, artists and artists, who are united by a common purpose: love for their fellow man, the need to offer, but also the sea!

Our aim is to help the small island regions of Greece to break their isolation and meet the needs of their inhabitants, as well as to raise awareness of public and private bodies to invest in infrastructure and quality of life for islanders.

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To date, we have travelled over 4,000 nautical miles, in a total of 18 missions (eight Aegean Crossings, nine Autumn Missions and one special mission with the E.O.D.Y.) in 34 islands: Agathonisi, Agios Efstratios, Anafi, Antikythera, Arki, Astypalaea, Gavdos, Donousa, Erikoussa, Herakleia, Thirassia, Thymena, Ikaria, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Kimolos, Kimolos, Keenaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Lipsi, Mathraki, Marathi, Marathi, Milos, Othoni, Patmos, Samothrace, Samothrace, Sikinos, Schinoussa, Telendos, Farmakonisi, Folegandros, Fourni, Pserimos.

The medical team, consisting of more than 20 medical, dental and paramedical specialists, has carried out more than 12.600 free specialised examinations in over 6.800 inhabitants, has collected over 2,500 blood samples and performed over 300 Pap tests and biopsies and 110 minor operations. It is noteworthy that the hours of medical services we have provided in the islands have exceeded 5,000.

We ensure in practice the right to free primary health care to those who are deprived of it on our islands, due to the high cost of travel and accommodation in mainland Greece and the country’s major hospitals. Our missions are licensed by the competent D.Y.P.E.

We establish partnerships with the most prestigious and reliable institutions, such as the Ministry of Health (participation in Operation Blue Freedom and realization of 1.00 doses of vaccines), EODY (creation of the first “Floating Team”, where we transported a team of EODY to Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros and Sikinos, for diagnostic molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2), the National Intermunicipal Network of Healthy Cities – Health Promotion, the Hellenic Society of Adolescent Medicine, the Hellenic Cancer Society, the Institute of Public Health, etc.α., in order to offer high quality and specialized services to the islanders, because we are aware that if we don’t do it, they are very likely not to see other doctors until a volunteer is found on their island again.

At the same time, in the islands we visit, we promote the implementation of infrastructure projects through sponsorships, with 100% of the sponsored funds being used exclusively for the project itself. We try to give residents and visitors of the islands the quality of life that we all enjoy. Indicatively, we have created more than 40 infrastructure projects, such as playgrounds, multi-playgrounds, desalination plants, floating piers, etc., with a total investment of more than 650,00 euros. Often, at the request of the competent authorities, we equip the local medical clinics with necessary medical equipment, machines and consumables, thus contributing, even after our departure, to the coverage of basic medical needs of the residents.

Finally, we focus, through targeted actions, on education, culture and information. We strengthen the educational process by donating state-of-the-art electronic and other equipment, toys, books, educational items and services (such as Wi-Fi upgrades) to schools. At the same time, we are close to the islanders, with targeted information and educational actions, both during the missions and throughout the year through online actions. We carry out, in cooperation with reputable institutions and experts, a series of informative programs for the public focusing on prevention and awareness, such as an educational program on sex education, a talk on maternity and birth support, an information program on eating disorders and body image, while we promote entertainment and culture through relevant events, such as a STEAM-based robotics workshop, an educational program on environmental awareness or shadow theater performances. Our aim is for the actions to meet the needs of the residents and create positive perceptions for young and old alike.

Our next mission, the Crossing 2023, is scheduled from 27 April to 7 May, where with 11 inflatable boats, capable of transporting our volunteer doctors and other specialised staff and equipment, we will visit, Sikinos, Donousa, Arkios, Lipsi, Agathonisi, Fourni, Thymena and Ikaria, to offer our services to the islanders.

Follow our action:

Website: www.symplefsi.org/

LinkedIn: symplefsi

Facebook: Symplefsi

Instagram: @symplefsi

Youtube: Symplefsi AMKE