University volunteers bring free health checks and peer learning to Apokoronas villages

Summary

On March 2, 2026, teams from the Mountain University (Panepistimio ton Oreon) and the University of Crete — led by Professor Pallikaris — carried out a coordinated day of activity across two locations in Apokoronas. In Kournas, volunteer doctors, nurses and students provided free medical examinations for vulnerable residents; at the same time, a peer-learning programme was delivered at the Vamos gymnasium. An open public discussion was also held at the village café in Kournas.

University volunteers bring free health checks and peer learning to Apokoronas

On March 2, 2026, a team of professors, nurses and students from the Mountain University and the University of Crete spread across two villages in Apokoronas for a day of simultaneous community activities led by Professor Pallikaris.

Free medical checks in Kournas

In Kournas, a temporary medical examination point was set up by volunteer doctors, nurses and students from the University of Crete. The service was directed at vulnerable groups — residents who may face barriers in accessing regular healthcare. All examinations were provided free of charge.

Students teaching students in Vamos

At the same time, the Vamos secondary school hosted a peer-learning session — a method in which students take on the role of teachers for each other. The organisers say the approach builds critical thinking and active participation rather than passive reception of information.

Open conversation at the village café

Also in Kournas, scientists and researchers joined local residents at the village café for an informal open discussion. The setting was deliberately chosen to bring academic knowledge into direct contact with everyday local experience.

What this means for residents

According to the municipality, the day reflects a view that community development includes education and healthcare access alongside physical infrastructure. The press release does not specify whether further visits are planned or how residents can request similar services in future.

Press Release – Reception of the Mountain University and the Scientific Volunteer Teams led by Professor Pallikaris

March 2, 2026, 9:41 AM

With particular joy and a sense of responsibility, the Municipality of Apokoronas welcomed the Mountain University and its scientific volunteer teams, led by Professor Pallikaris, in a coordinated and multi-layered intervention that demonstrated in practice what the connection between science and society means.

The activities took place simultaneously at two locations within our Municipality, highlighting the comprehensive character of the initiative. At the Vamos Gymnasium, a peer-learning programme was implemented — a modern pedagogical method that cultivates cooperation, critical thinking and active participation. Our students did not function as passive recipients of knowledge; they took on a creative role, developing skills that will accompany them throughout their lives.

At the same time, in Kournas, professors from the University of Crete, together with nurses and students, carried out medical examinations for vulnerable groups. This intervention had a substantial social impact, reinforcing prevention and providing access to healthcare services with scientific competence and human sensitivity. In an era when health is a fundamental right but not always a self-evident reality, such actions carry particular weight.

In parallel, an open discussion with residents took place at the village café. In that place where the heart of local society has always beaten, a substantive dialogue unfolded — free of distances and formalities. Scientific knowledge met the experience of everyday life, creating fertile ground for reflection and the joint search for solutions.

For the Municipality of Apokoronas, development is not only projects and infrastructure. It is the strengthening of education, the promotion of health, the cultivation of trust and social cohesion. It is tangible proof that the person is at the centre of our policy choices.

I express my warmest thanks to the Mountain University, the professors, the students, the healthcare professionals and all the volunteers for their selfless contribution. I also thank the teachers, local institutions and residents who embraced the initiative with warmth.

When knowledge is shared, when science serves the person, and when society participates actively, then our place becomes stronger, more cohesive and more hopeful for the future.