She digs with her hands the barren land to bear fruit.

With unquenchable passion and youthful excitement, she presented the journey of women over the 200 years since the Greek Revolution.

TREADING the path of her book titled “The Peaceful Uprising of Female Sapiens 1821-2021,” which serves as a valuable research artifact documenting the journey of Greek women over two centuries, she left the audience with a sense of wonderful female persistence, patience, and achievements in barren ground. This is the journey of women worldwide.

The former MEP, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, and author Anna Karamanou was the keynote speaker at the event celebrating International Women’s Day at the Apollo Theater.

Addressing an esteemed audience with a slideshow presentation, she analyzed the challenges and achievements that Greek women have faced in establishing their position in the male-dominated sphere of power—a struggle that has come with immense losses and sacrifices. She delivered a powerful message that the contributions of women to humanity are invaluable and must continue.

THIS historical journey of women began with the Revolution of 1821, reaching through the pandemic and culminating in the MeToo movement of 2021.

Anna Karamanou, with simple and vivid language, made a pertinent and historically substantiated reference to the major events, the role of political and military leadership, the triumphs and national calamities, the role of women, and the ideas that shaped the modern Greek woman. Thus, her peaceful revolution emerged, waving the banner of universal values.

She naturally did not overlook the steadfast participation of women in the victorious struggle against the Ottoman Empire and in the subsequent wars.

She placed particular emphasis on the position of women today, both nationally and globally, noting that they occupy one of the lowest rankings in terms of equal access to employment and working conditions. She also highlighted that they hold one of the worst positions in the EU regarding women’s representation in decision-making centers for political, economic, and social issues. Because, as she stated, women do not always face men; often, they also contend with other women.

This event was special because it honored a woman whose struggles for women’s rights have reached the other side of the world.

Anna Karamanou “stood” for quite some time in Ermoupoli, emphasizing that we Syrians should be very proud of our region’s pioneering role in many areas.

The evening was “filled” with emotions. Alongside the award presented to Anna Karamanou, women healthcare professionals were also honored.

In the person of our distinguished and beloved internist at the Syros hospital, Maria Tzortzi, the doctors working in the public health sector who fight daily under adverse conditions were honored.

A doctor was honored whose name is synonymous with the dignified operation of the institution for many decades, and these pages are not enough to express the love of the patients.

Moreover, this gratitude was expressed through the applause she received when her name was announced, shaking the Apollo Theater.

The Director of the Nursing Service of our Hospital, Eleni Altouva, was also honored, representing the women nurses.

All those worthy, tireless, and dedicated women who receive our love and appreciation in return.

All those who deeply experienced unprecedented situations and emotions throughout the time of the battle against COVID-19.

March 8th directs us to women of all ages, from every corner of the earth, from every socioeconomic background, every level of education, religion, language, and sexual orientation.

To those who are increasingly deprived of rights, often due to their gender.

To those who lost their lives due to male madness. This year’s International Women’s Day in our country is marked by the loss of 17 women who, in 2021, lost their lives as victims of criminal acts committed by their partners, victims of femicide, whether on a sexual or domestic level, or in the context of war. Because wars are caused by male “imbalance.”

This year’s March 8th on our island was rich in meaning. Diverse and multifaceted. Both private and public entities came together with the aim of highlighting the position of women in everyday life, even under the shadow of the pandemic.

The actions of women were highlighted through the Equality Committee of our Municipality, focusing on the artistic sector.

A photography exhibition was held in the passenger terminal, along with a painting exhibition where grandmothers showcased their works at the Ermoupolis KAPI, themed “Woman: Jewel and Treasure.”

On their behalf, legal expert Nomiki Talasli emphasized that “the women of KAPI honor the heroines of everyday life, all those beings who carry life within them and give birth to the hopes of humanity.”

Another journey into the wonderful world of women took place through the painting exhibition of five female artists (Elsa Charalampous, Angeliki Brisnovali, Katerina Kyprioti, Niki Drakou, Niki Gryllaki), who showcased their works in the Em. Roidis hall with the theme “The Woman Through the Eyes of Women.”

Also touching was the “presence” of the late Syros painter Marouso Kotsolaki, honored with one of her paintings, who contributed so much to our island.

Tender was also the art exhibition featuring works from individuals at the Creative Employment Center for Persons with Disabilities, themed “I Paint the Woman I Admire.”

How could I conclude this tribute to women without mentioning, as a descendant of Asia Minor, the women of Minor Asia, especially in light of the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe?

As a founding member of the Association of Minor Asian People of Ermoupoli – Syros, I had organized the annual calendar for 2017 based on the women of Minor Asia from every social class and educational background. In fact, its publication received commendatory remarks from the newspaper “Kathimerini.”

For those who rebuilt their homes from scratch in Greece, transformed the country, left an indelible mark on our culture, enriched our social life, improved our cuisine, and introduced novel female behavioral models that played a crucial role in advancing the women’s movement.

Skilled, restless, diligent, and energetic, they left their mark on letters and the arts.

We only mention Anna Laskari-Papadimitriou, Alexandra Papadopoulou, who is considered the first Greek prose writer, Filio Haidemenou, Dido Sotiriou, Eleni Vakalo, Maria Iordanidou, Rosa Eskenazy, and our great actresses Marika Kotopoulis and Kyveli.

Throughout all eras, there have been women who made us proud, as the value of both the famous and the unknown, of the women who live next door, work, and strive daily to make a difference through their families, their personal impact in the workplace, and their own examples.

All of them are a unique and valuable point of reference for progress.