D. Afentouli’ s Lecture in Kefallonia – Vimaonline Publ.
January, 28, 2014, 11:18
[Picture of Despina Afentouli – Lecturing at the Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands]
To the context of the open lectures that take place yearly at the Public Relations and Communication Department of the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Ionian Islands, the regional councilor of Eastern Attica, Despina Afentouli concluded an open lecture to the public, on “The importance of the preservation and the dissemination of the cultural heritage to the next generations” on 01/13/2014 in “Kostas Evagelatos” Room at the TEI of Ionian Islands in Argostoli, Kefalonia [Greece].
At her speech, after she thanked the TEI for organizing the event, D. Afentouli emphasized that Kefallonia, from archaic ages until nowadays, has promoted important personalities of the Greek culture, of Letters and Arts, whereas she explained that she chose this specific subject of speech due to her love for arts and tradition, as she comes from a family of iconographers.
As she highlighted, “our roots, but also the narrations of my grandparents, from Constantinople and Smyrna, determined my decision to be occupied on my Ph.D. thesis on Greek-Turkish relations and Septemvriana [the expulsion of Greeks of Constantinople in 1955] in Polis [Constantinople]. The knowledge of the past, apart from the teaching role [it plays] for the future, it contributes [not only] to the shaping of our identity, the manners and customs, but also of our tradition. However, the most important of all is to transfer [all these] to the next generations, recognizing that the management of this entire great heritage, is not an easy issue. That thought drove me to take the initiative to found the Union “Aghia Sophia” of the Greeks originated from Constantinople and Asia Minor in Northern Attica (Athens, Greece) “Aghia Sophia”.”
Furthermore, D. Afentouli stressed that the cultural heritage – amongst others – includes the tangible and the intangible culture, as well as the “natural” heritage. Moreover, she presented [not only] the regulatory framework of international conventions, but also the national legislation, as well as the initiative of the “European Cultural Capital” programme in relation to the protection of the cultural heritage, which was implemented in 1985, after the proposal of the then Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri, to the EU Council of Ministers.
The speaker [also] well-referred to the contribution of all, the tradition, the cultural heritage, the language and other characteristics, to the construction of the national identity, emphasizing that “the culture brings closer the people”, while she underlined that “The preservation of the culture and the cultural identity, from generation to generation, is of great importance, as even during the hardest period of times, it has kept the Greeks united.”
[Despina Afentouli is a professor at the Public Relations Department and Communication and executive councilor of Eastern Attica – Press Office representative.]
Source: www.vimaonline.gr/20/article/13663/dialeksh-ths-d-afentoylh-sthn-kefallonia