The role of immigrants in the mountainous settlements of Tzoumerka

The role of immigrants in the mountainous settlements of Tzoumerka

During the last decades, Greece is receiving immigrants, while Greeks used to migrate from Greece in the past. The migration wave from Albania changed the country's social, economic and political “status quo”. Some Albanian migrants, leaving a country that did not offer the basic for life, will choose to settle in the neglected by Greek government and the majority of the Greek population mountainous area of Tzoumerka. The difficulty to find a job in the urban centers of the country in addition to various job opportunities in mountain areas, are the two main reasons that led these migrants to this region. There, they contributed mainly in the construction as well as the cattle – breading section. Both, of great importance to the local economy and development. A relationship based on interdependence between the local community of Tzoumerka and the Albanian migrants will be evolved in the economic, social and cultural aspect of everyday life. These immigrants are characterized by a constant to –and- fro between work place and home place, that isn’t of no impact to their life. They, therefore, are “international” migrants who share two cultural identities, live two lives and have two resident places.