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The Development of an Island

Diocesan Press Service. September 7, 1966 [46-8]

The Island of Symi, located in the Aegean Sea, is known to few Americans, for it is not visited by many tourists. It is hoped, however, that this Island will become familiar in the future to American churchmen as it is the focus of a new Church World Service project.

Symi is losing population. The number of persons living on the Island in 1920 was 30,000: today that number is 3000. From the 16th through the 19th Century Symi was a favored part of the Turkish Empire, rich and well inhabited. Neglect of the Island after it was ceded by Turkey to Italy, severe damage from bombing during World War II, and lack of rainfall have created the pressures which have made Symians leave for Rhodes, Athens, Australia or the United States in more recent years.

It is a small mountainous island, one of the Dodecanese, located 25 miles from Rhodes and surrounded on three sides by the Turkish mainland, and the home of Church World Service Operation Catapult.

CWS (Church World Service) became involved with the Island of Symi when it built a solar salt water conversion plant there in an effort to alleviate the acute shortage of pure water. This plant, which resembles a large pool or reservoir, now occupies what was the town plaza, the only flat land on the Island. Through evaporation salt water is made drinkable and a steady supply of pure water assured, even during the majority of the year when there is no rainfall. It was soon discovered that water alone would not solve the Island's underlying problems, and CWS employed a young Greek social worker to study the community and its needs. From that time on, because of an interest in the people and the opportunities for community development, CWS launched an all out program. This type of program, long term community development, is new for CWS which has only recently been able to release funds for other than short term emergency aid in disasters.

Operation Catapult has worked to improve what already existed in Symi, creating new life through the use of professional and technical help, most often from Rhodes or Athens. There were no employment opportunities for women as local custom kept them tied to the home even though unmarried. As a first step in alleviating this situation, CWS encouraged a sewing factory. The staff approached local businessmen and found one, the owner of a dry goods store, willing to support the venture. CWS provided a loan and hired a trainer to teach the women. So far, four women have been fully trained, with eight more soon to join them; and increasing numbers of orders are being received for the clothing they make. Other projects include a Lantern Shop, honey cooperative, ice plant and agricultural station. An Athenian advertising and marketing man has come to help local merchants package goods and market them at a profit.

The director of Operation Catapult is the Rev. Robert Burch, an Episcopal priest working for CWS. Before arriving in Symi, he was in charge of a suburban parish in Rochester, N. Y. Since then he has had many new and, to him, rewarding experiences. He has helped direct an agricultural project, and an egg marketing project; addressed the King and Queen of Greece about the solar salt water conversion plant; and is working with a predominantly Greek staff in an all Greek community. Before Symi, he had never worked on a farm, never met royalty and never studied Greek.

In back of Mr. Burch, who has been in the Dodecanese since Sept. 1965, is the Catapult Cabinet of Church World Service in New York. This group is responsible for making overall policy decisions for the Symi project, and must take into account what can be financed as well as the desires of the people of Symi.

Much remains to be done, particularly in the mountains, or Upper Symi, for that area still lacks the water now available around the harbor, or Lower Symi, and the harbor remains unusable for swimming, etc., because it is polluted with refuse. However, the inhabitants of the Island, particularly its leaders, have a renewed hope for the future and employment opportunities are being increased, lessening the need for emigration.

Through contributions to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid, Episcopalians can aid such projects as this exciting one in Symi.