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We are "OIKOTOPIA Social Cooperative Enterprise of Collective and Social Benefit",a group of young people determined to return to our village, Kalochori, in the valley of Kalamas, in Epirus - a small community with only 30 inhabitants, facing a serious problem of desolation. Despite the many challenges we face, including threats from oil and gas extraction, industrial wind turbines, hydroelectric projects on the Kalama River and policies that undermine rural development and social cohesion, we are determined to bring new life to our village and the wider region.

Our vision is to create a sustainable future here, providing opportunities for the local community and those who want to return or train for future settlement. By collecting and growing organic produce from local, traditional seeds, through a circular and solidarity economy model, we aim to restore both the land and the community. At the same time, we plan to offer authentic, nature-based experiences, accommodation and meals for visitors, and organize activities that will strengthen the social fabric of the village, while preserving our cultural and natural heritage.

With the right support, we can transform this little paradise. Your help will benefit not only us, but an entire community that is eager to see its village flourish again.

Who We Are:

We are a group of local residents and descendants of Kalochorios, a village in the Kalama Valley in the Epirus region, who have a deep connection to our ancestral land. Our Social Cooperative Enterprise, "OIKOTOPIA", was founded with a clear mission: to bring life back to these remote rural areas, which have been heavily affected by desertification over the last century.

For generations, families from Kalochori and other villages in the area have migrated to cities or abroad in search of opportunity, leaving behind the homes and landscapes they once called home. We are among the few who either still live here or continue to visit - and we believe now is the time for action.

Our Vision:

We dream of a future where we are self-sufficient and Kalochori and the wider Kalama Valley flourish again, with traditional houses restored, land sustainably farmed and local communities revitalised. Our aim is to bring back the vibrant life that once characterised this area, through sustainable development, ecotourism and social enterprises that offer value to both locals and visitors.

Our vision is deeply rooted in respect for the natural environment and the preservation of Epirus' unique cultural heritage, while creating new opportunities for growth and resilience.

Our Activities:

To realize this vision, we are planning the following initiatives:

1. Restoration of Traditional Houses - We are in the process of studying the restoration of old stone houses in Kalochori, which will be used for ecotourism, educational workshops and community activities. These houses will allow visitors to experience traditional life in the valley and educate themselves on the self-sufficiency that the area offers, while allowing the owners to see them alive again, visit them and see their family heritage preserved.

2. Re-open the Village Café - TheVillage Café in Kalochori, scheduled to re-open by the end of 2024, will serve as the heart of the community, providing a social space for locals and visitors alike. It will also host cultural and social events that will connect people to local heritage and create opportunities for economic development.

3. Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Gardens- By spring 2025, we plan to grow organic gardens using local seeds and traditional methods. These gardens will provide fresh produce for the café and provide a model for sustainable living.

4. Ecotourism and Outdoor Activities - Beginning in the spring of 2025, we will offer ecotourism experiences in the Kalomorios area, such as hiking, rafting and nature-based educational programs, encouraging visitors to explore and connect with the natural beauty of the Kalama Valley.

5. Workshops and Community Education - We will offer educational workshops focused on traditional arts, self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability, enabling both locals and visitors to gain new skills and contribute to the regeneration of the area.

Our Campaign

We are launching this funding campaign to raise funds for the critical early stage of our co-op. By contributing to our project, you will help to cover:

- Accounting and legal fees for the establishment of the cooperative

- Legal and legal costs for the establishment of the legal and legal fees for the establishment of the association's legal and legal organization.

- Equipment and supplies for the café

- Equipment and supplies for the purchase of equipment and supplies for the purchase of furniture and equipment for the restoration of the village halls

- Operation of the café as we prepare for the grand opening in late 2024

- Preparing for ecotourism and organic chestnut farming activities through the spring of 2025.

Your support will help us turn our vision into reality and ensure that Kalochori and the wider Kalama Valley not only survive, but flourish as a model of sustainable rural development.

Timeline:

- By December 2024: Official launch of the cooperative and reopening of the café in Kalohori.

- By Spring 2025: Full operation of ecotourism activities, organic gardens and community workshops.

Call to Action!

We invite you to be part of this incredible journey to revitalize Kalochori and the Kalama Valley and protect our cultural and natural heritage. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to our goal of creating a sustainable, thriving community in this unique corner of the world.

Join us on the journey of revitalizing the villages of Epirus! 🌿💚______________________________________________________________________________

We are "ECOTOPIA Social Cooperative Enterprise of Collective and Social Benefit", a group of young people determined to return to our home village Kalochori, in the Kalamas Valley, Epirus-asmall community of just 30 residents facing severe depopulation. Despite the numerous challenges we face, including threats from oil and gas extraction, industrial wind turbines, hydropower projects on the Kalamas River, and policies that undermine rural development and social cohesion, we are committed to breathing new life into our village and the region.

Our vision is to create a sustainable future here, offering opportunities for the local community and those who wish to return or train for future resettlement. By foraging, cultivating organic food from local, traditional seeds within a model of circular and solidarity-based economy, we aim to restore both the land and the community. Alongside this, we plan to offer authentic, nature-based experiences, accommodation and meals for visitors and organize activities that strengthen the social fabric of the village, preserve our cultural and natural heritage.

With the right support, we can transform this small paradise. Your help will not only benefit us but also empower an entire community eager to see its village flourish once again.

Who We Are

We are a group of local residents and descendants of Kalohori, a village in the Kalamas Valley of Epirus Region, Greece, deeply connected to our ancestral land. Our Cooperative, "ΕCOTOPIA Social Cooperative Enterprise of Collective and Social Benefit", was founded with a clear mission: to bring life back to these remote rural areas, which have been heavily affected by depopulation over the last century.

For generations, families from Kalohori and other villages in the region have migrated to cities or abroad in search of opportunities, leaving behind their homes and the landscapes they once called home. We are among the few left who either still live here or continue to visit-and we believe now is the time to take action.

Our Vision

We dream of a future where Kalohori and the wider Kalamas Valley thrive once again, with traditional homes restored, the land cultivated sustainably, and local communities revitalized. Our goal is to restore the vibrant life that once defined this region through sustainable development, eco-tourism, and social enterprises that provide value to locals and visitors alike.

Our vision is deeply rooted in respecting the natural environment and preserving the unique cultural heritage of Epirus, while also creating new opportunities for growth and resilience.

Our Activities

To bring this vision to life, we plan to implement the following initiatives:

1. Restoration of Traditional Homes - We are in the process of restoring old stone houses in Kalohori to be used for eco-tourism, educational workshops, and community activities. These homes will allow visitors to experience the traditional way of life in the valley while supporting local businesses.

2. reopening the Village Café - The café in Kalohori, set to reopen by the end of 2024, will serve as the heart of the community, providing a social space for locals and visitors to gather. It will also host cultural and social events that connect people to the local heritage and provide opportunities for economic development.

Sustainable Farming and Organic Gardens - By spring 2025, we plan to cultivate organic gardens, using local seeds and traditional methods. These gardens will serve as a source of fresh produce for the café and a model for sustainable living.

Eco-Tourism and Outdoor Activities - Starting in spring 2025, we will offer eco-tourism experiences in and around Kalohori, including hiking, rafting, and nature-based educational programs, encouraging visitors to explore and connect with the natural beauty of Kalamas Valley.

5. workshops and community education - We will provide educational workshops focused on traditional crafts, self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability, empowering both locals and visitors to learn new skills and contribute to the region's revival.

Our Campaign

We are launching this crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the critical start-up phase of our cooperative. By contributing to our project, you will help cover:

- Accounting and legal costs associated with launching the cooperative

- Restoration costs for traditional homes in Kalohori

- Equipment and supplies for the café

- Development of our website and marketing efforts

- Café operations as we prepare for the grand opening in late 2024

- Preparation for eco-tourism activities and organic farming by spring 2025

Your support will help us transform our vision into reality and ensure that Kalohori and the wider Kalamas Valley not only survive but thrive as a model for sustainable rural development.

Timeline:

- By December 2024: Official launch of the cooperative and reopening of the village café in Kalohori.

- By Spring 2025: Full-scale operation of eco-tourism activities, organic gardens, and community workshops.

Call to Action

We invite you to be part of this incredible journey to revive Kalohori and the Kalamas Valley and protect our cultural and natural heritage. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to our goal of creating a sustainable, thriving community in this remarkable corner of the world.

Join us in bringing life back to Kalohori and Kalamas Valley!🌿💚