Mountain Environments

The mountainous and isolated areas of Crete, as well as the rest of Greece, are threatened by economic decline, which results in the flight of young people to urban centers and delinquency. The uncertainty about the future and the difficult present contribute to the dissolution of the social fabric and the low level of self-esteem of the inhabitants who are the bearers of our popular culture.

The University of the Mountains began as an initiative of a group of university teachers, postgraduate students and representatives of local communities. This group’s call was enthusiastically responded to by personalities of letters and arts, local organizations and a multitude of ordinary citizens, who want to contribute their best to reversing the negative climate and pessimism that plague the mountainous regions.

The main objectives of the University of the Mountains are:

1. To support traditional and environmentally friendly development activities (eco-tourism, local products, traditional professions) with know-how and programs
2. To study and strengthen the rich folk tradition, which preserves to a certain extent experiential knowledge and the values ​​of mutual assistance and social contribution.
3. To connect scientific research with the needs and demands of local societies, in short, to get the University out of its ivory tower.
4. To realize innovative initiatives in the critical sector of education and health.

The warm response of the population gives the University of the Mountains the strength to continue its actions, holding open discussions with the participation of all residents of the areas it visits.