The Militaire News video opens a critical discussion about the Greek countryside, placing at its center the farmers and livestock breeders who are struggling both for subsidies and for the survival of mountainous regions. Through the remarks of Sotiris Tsoukarelis, founding member of the social cooperative The High Mountains, the multiple difficulties of agricultural production are highlighted, along with the sense of abandonment and the need for collective initiatives.
The High Mountains, based in Eastern Zagori, is a tangible example of this alternative approach to mountainous Greece. Founded in 2016, the enterprise aims to support the repopulation and integrated development of mountain areas by assisting those who already live in the mountains or wish to settle there, as well as cultural associations and local communities. Within this framework, it builds networks of mutual support, promotes local production, and strengthens social cohesion, while also developing alternative forms of tourism and reinforcing the region’s cultural and environmental heritage.
The work of The High Mountains is grounded in the principles of the Social and Solidarity Economy, prioritizing the achievement of social impact rather than the maximization of profit. Emphasis is placed on creating quality jobs, developing infrastructure, and addressing the challenges that will allow sustainable communities to emerge. Through the interview with Sotiris Tsoukarelis, a different reading of the countryside comes forward: mountain regions are not “finished,” but can once again become spaces of creation, production, and collective regeneration.
The activities of the cooperative span areas such as decentralization, social entrepreneurship, education, mountain-based production, and solidarity tourism. The organization’s Mountain School provides a collaborative space for learning and reconnecting with nature for those who wish to help revive the countryside, while the infrastructures being developed strengthen cooperation between locals and visitors, cultivating relationships and shared initiatives. This approach proposes an alternative path for the high mountains; one where social cohesion, production, and creativity coexist within a sustainable way of life.
The entire initiative reflects a practical and realistic vision for mountainous Greece, with a clear strategy and implementable actions, serving as an example of collective regeneration and investment in place.
Watch the full video on the Militaire News channel on YouTube.