I am a mom of two little creatures, based in Kalamata, Greece, where I also work and live. I am deeply driven by a belief in community, care, and social change, and I work as a political economist, action researcher, and facilitator committed to creating spaces where people can imagine and build fairer, more sustainable futures together. My work brings together degrowth, solidarity economies, participatory democracy, and youth empowerment.
What lead you to first discover the topic of degrowth? It was quite early in my university studies to become an economist that I started noticing that some things did not really add up. What we were learning often seemed disconnected from social and environmental realities, and I struggled to accept that there were no alternatives.
At first, I turned to the most accessible alternative available to me at the time: environmental economics. However, I soon began to see its limitations as well. Eventually, what really made a difference was participating in a long international programme.
During that experience, a dear friend of mine, L, opened my eyes to the concepts of the commons and the social and solidarity economy. At the same time, my trainer, S, lent me a book to read during my stay. That book was Degrowth: A Vocabulary for a New Era. Reading it was a turning point for me and marked the beginning of my journey into degrowth.
What do you like most about the degrowth movement? I would say the people involved. Those I have been associated with tend to have a more holistic and critical understanding of the world, which keeps me energised and passionate about contributing to the movement. Also, for some reason, I feel it being quite close to me, easy to follow and to relate to.
How did you discover the IDN? Through friends I met in the online Degrowth Master's programme at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. I was able to follow the IDN from its very first steps.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the IDN? Again, the people. Also, particularly having been actively involved in organising its assemblies, I have never felt alone or that all the responsibility fell on me. This has been quite different from other places where I have volunteered or worked. People within the IDN have a shared vision and an attitude that I believe is essential for the kind of social transformation the movement aspires to achieve.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering with the IDN? I would encourage them to give it a try! The IDN is a space where you can meet inspiring and welcoming people, learn from different perspectives, and try contributing to building alternatives.
