The Association

The Community History

During the first half of the 20th century, Greece was overwhelmed by waves of refugees who settled mainly in Macedonia as a consequence of the nationalist rivalries that had developed in the Balkan region at the end of the 19th century, but also of the effort of the Young Turks to homogenize and assimilate the various ethnic groups of the Ottoman Empire. Additional refugee movements were also caused by the socio-political upheavals created in Russia due to the October Revolution.

The peak, however, of the refugee flows was observed after the Asia Minor catastrophe. It is estimated that approximately 1,064,000 refugees settled in the Macedonian region during the periods 1912-1920 and 1922-1924.

The Community of Nea Galini, Municipal Unit of Nea Kallikrateia of the Municipality of Nea Propontida is part of the system of refugee Settlements that were created during the first half of the 20th century. After the Asia Minor disaster, the Settlement of refugees from the wider region of Asia Minor, Eastern Thrace and Pontus began gradually.

Centrally located between New Kallikrateia and New Moudania, New Galini is inextricably linked to its own “refugee fate”.

In the last 50 years, it has been characterized by anarchic construction of new buyers, some of which is arbitrary, as a result of a series of murky ownership concessions that have been made since then until today. However, it always remains a source of cultural inspiration and creation, with strong characteristics of the refugee element of Asia Minor, Eastern Thrace and Pontus.

Today, it seems to be redefining its strong identity, gaining a voice as a Community of people who are vigorously claiming their place in the new socio-political truth

The Association

In 1980, the Association of the Community of Nea Galini (original name Galini) was created for the first time. Since then, it has experienced many mutations, since its members had to take important initiatives to gradually transform the plots of land they were buying – as early as 1970 – into a residential area. The arbitrary nature of the reconstruction of the area, resulting in the non-involvement of the State in urban planning interventions, left the residents of the Community with the enormous responsibility of organizing and converting 1516 acres of land into a habitable zone.

In 2023, the Community counts 1285 built houses, 691 unbuilt plots and with the status of undivided ownership, 109 plots of land and 1516 acres.
In this huge area, at the expense of the residents and with a lot of personal hard work and contribution, always in collaboration with the Association:

The area of one of the two streams in the area that had not flowed water for many decades and that had been “closed” by natural materials was taken care of, around which, however, pieces of land had been allowed to be sold and therefore houses to be built. The same thing happened at the same time with a part of the beach that collected water and did not allow residents to pass through. To this day, with the personal efforts of the residents, both areas are kept clean.
The residents themselves managed to electrify initially 15 properties of the Community through PPC. Afterwards, with personal industrious efforts, private electrician services and always in cooperation with PPC, electricity was extended to other parts of the Community. Today, with the regularization regime, almost 100% of the houses are electrified normally.

The main streets of Galini, now Nea Galini and Thessaloniki, were paved with asphalt. At the initiative of the Municipality, the coastal road was also paved.
The beach was designed to be visit able by residents.
Three playgrounds were created (1982, 1995, 2010) that “raised” at least 3 generations of children. With today’s legislation, the playground was removed and the Community is preparing for the new conditions.

A covered gazebo was built that hosted parents and children for many, many years. Today, it was removed from the services of the Municipality, following a complaint.

Basketball, soccer, volleyball and beach volleyball courts were built. Today, they are inactive, due to danger from the waters of the sea.

Benches were built along the beach which are still maintained today.

Garbage bins, a car, a caravan, a small tractor and other machines were acquired to serve various needs of the Community. Motor vehicles are currently not available to the Association.

A removable wooden house and a small warehouse were built for the needs of the Association’s headquarters. Today, they were renovated and operate for the new needs of the Community.

Important people, who believed, fought for the development of the Community and today we thank them for their work, were:
Elias Manasis, Michalis Dimitriou, Christos Karadimos, Alkis Voutsas, George Samoladas, Goulis Josef, Efthymia Selemenaki, Asimina Kalogiannidou, Odysseas Kotrotsios, Giannis Doumbas, Giannis Psyroukis, Pavlos Vourvoukas, George Papadopoulos, Adam Papadopoulos, Stelios Tsikertzis, Christos Tourlakidis, Roula Agathopoulou, Yannis Lalos, Costas Rustamanis, Panagiotis Koulakiotis.

Special thanks to George Savvopoulos for the support he generously gave to the Association’s activities at his Refreshment area.