“My school is not here, it’s in another village called Kato Meria. It’s 3-seated and has 19 children. We have three teachers, Mrs. Effie, Mrs. Zapheiroula and Mrs. Dionysia, the headmistress. My village has no other children except for me and my sister, whom I can’t stand because she’s really young and keeps screaming”.

He spreads the joy around him

Twelve year-old Panagiotis Assimakopoulos lives with his family in Ellinika of Kea, a village at the southern-most edge of the island with very few houses. Athenians do not build any villas there and there aren't any ferocious jeeps circulating around the town, only a few summer visitors, who are not satisfied by the usual type of holidays and try to look behind the island’s showcase..

Due to the lack of children in his village, Panagiotis runs alone over the house yards and caresses every animal he finds along his way, be it dogs, sheep, goats or cows. He also visits the few houses of the village, where only over-aged people live. He discusses everything with them helps them to shake off transiently the loneliness.

Panagiotis is very sociable and has a unique smile, which spreads the joy to those around him and makes it a pleasure for someone to talk to him. “He is a blessed little child, God sends him to chat with us and give life to our solitude”, an elder neighbor of his says.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

MORE PHOTOS

Due to the lack of children, he runs around on his own.

He visits the elderly and keeps them company.

Magical view from the village, at the southern side of Kea. Kythnos Island can be seen in the distance.

---