This European summer, 20 young people of Cretan origin residing in Australia have the opportunity to travel to Greece and take part in a cultural, educational, historical, and social program organized by the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand. The tour aims to allow young people to visit their ancestral homeland and immerse themselves in the heritage and hospitality of Crete.
The visit is scheduled for July and will commence in Athens, where the participants will be welcomed by the General Staff of National Defense (GEETHA). The itinerary includes visits to locations such as the Tanagra Air Base, Salamina Naval Station, the Artillery School, and George Tzavela’s Camp, where the Presidential Guard Battalion is stationed.
The group will be hosted by General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the General Staff of the National Defense, at the Armed Forces Officers’ Club and will engage in a series of official meetings with Greece’s political leadership.
The Federation has fostered a longstanding collaboration with the General Staff of National Defense, particularly in commemorating the Battle of Crete. The partnership, established in 1978, has paved the way for the implementation of the GEETHA hospitality program for Cretan children in Australia.
The program will continue in 2024 during the September school holidays and will be extended to all Hellenic young Australians, thanks to the joint efforts of the Federation and the Greek Armed Forces.
The journey will proceed to Crete, where they will participate in a hospitality program organized by the General Secretariat of Hellenism Abroad, the Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the World Council of Cretans. This program will take place within the framework of the 6th International Cretan Congress in Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi Prefecture.
The program’s objective is to strengthen the bonds between young Greek Australians and their roots, offering them a firsthand experience of Greek and Cretan life. Activities include an exploration of history, culture, traditions, gastronomy, music, and dance, as well as visits to archaeological sites, tourist attractions, and monuments.
The group will also pay tribute to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made significant contributions during World War II and honor the Greek-Australian alliance by trekking the ANZAC paths. A special event dedicated to the first Cretans from the Apokoronou Province who arrived in Australia will be organized by the Federation.
Antonis Tsourdalakis, president of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, expressed his gratitude to individuals and organizations for making this program possible, such as the Minister of National Defense Panagiotopoulos, Deputy Minister Nikolaos Hardalias, and Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces Konstantinos Floros.
Tsourdalakis conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andreas Katsaniotis, and General Secretary of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy Ioannis Chrysoulakis for their contributions to the hosting program for Cretan migrants in Crete.
