The youth exchange took place in Kryoneri from 19/05 to 01/06/24. Its objective was the restoration of the village's old mill. The German apprentices, who specialise in plastering and bricklaying, worked on the old mill for approximately two weeks and made significant progress. With the assistance of long- and short-term volunteers from Filoxenia, the rooms surrounding and within the mill were cleaned, allowing the apprentices to work more efficiently.
The aim of the youth exchange is - as in the previous year - to form the participating young people into a unit that will not only successfully complete the construction project of restoring a watermill in Kryoneri, but will also come to terms with their shared history together. The young people's participation in this project gives them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultural aspects and history of their respective countries.
In addition, the young participants have the opportunity to test their manual skills in areas that are not normally covered in the school or vocational curriculum. In particular, this includes active participation in the restoration of a historic 18th century watermill in Kryoneri, which is a listed building and offers a rare opportunity for hands-on experience. The team achieved a great end result and established a solid foundation for the next group to build upon. They successfully renovated and repaired the walls, window and door lintels, and secured the old millstone. During their time in the area, they also visited the Museum of the Kalavrytan Holocaust and a stalactite and stalagmite cave not far from Kalavryta.