Listening to and interviewing flood-affected populations in the region of Thessaly, Greece, three years after Storm Daniel, the initial findings of our field research have revealed shocking realities. The scale of destruction is enormous, but so is the trauma experienced by people who have lost their homes following the extreme climate events.
Through our project,“Helping Homes Become Resilient in Climate Affected Greece” funded by the European Climate Foundation, we go beyond buildings. We explore the lived experiences, needs, and priorities of climate-affected communities in Thessaly and Crete and their perceptions towards recovery, to understand the after climate-related trauma reality. In addition, one of the aims of the project it to contribute to a more resilient and inclusive Europe, by proposing a sustainability-oriented renovation as part of a broader national and European climate recovery strategy, in which community-based perspectives will be integrated.
Hope, safety, trust, dignity, and sense of belonging are among the core pillars of our field research. Our work is grounded in redefining the fundamental concept of “house/home” after climate-driven disasters, by listening to the voices of those most affected.
Because a resilient home is more than energy-efficient, it’s a space to rebuild life.
