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Authorities dangle $20k for people to relocate to sparsely populated Greek island

Antikythera
Antikythera
Credit: Jimmyoneill at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

There is a concerted effort to save the Greek island of Antikythera from falling off the map as its aged population continues to die off.

Monetary incentives are being offered to encourage people to make the beautiful island their home.

As part of the package, you’ll get a house to live in, and an allowance every month for the next three years. Antikythera is already sponsoring four families to live there but wants more.

It is a last-ditch effort to stimulate the local economy and breathe new life into the island community.

It is estimated that a total of 68 people are currently living on the island. They are mainly old people as all the young ones take off for the cities as soon as they are done with primary education.

The population is too weak to support thriving businesses such as grocery stores, gas stations or taxis.

The major push for the regeneration of the island is being driven by the local Greek Orthodox Church. The church has set aside $20,000 for each family who decides to take the leap.

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