First Ladies
Gianna Kefalogianni-Birliraki is the key-person responsible for the communication between the Greek Cretans abroad and their place of birth. Mrs. Gianna Kefalogianni-Birliraki is an elected prefectorial councilor in Rethymnon Prefecture in the field of emigrants-immigrants and sensitive social groups. She reported in an interview to In-On magazine that the emigrants’ soul is overwhelmed by Greece and their heart is full of love for their country. The hope to return is indelibly printed on their mind and thought. For those people communication with their place of birth, information and participation to what is going on in Greece, constitutes the “oxygen” that keeps them emotionally “alive”, each one for personal reasons. Mrs. Gianna Kefalogianni-Birliraki clarified that nature has endowed women with special sensibilities and a wide range of emotions. This helps visualize things from a different ankle and emphasize on issues that need special confrontation, such as the issue of emigrants-immigrants as well as sensitive social groups. Immigrants for financial reasons who live and work in Greece- the speaker stressed- face their own problems, too. These problems are located to mainly their smooth incorporation to the local community, to job issues, to different language and culture but to phenomena of racism, which even though are rare, they are not completely wiped out. In order to solve these problems, there is a close and I believe an efficient cooperation with the immigrants’ forum as well as with all the municipalities of the Prefecture, while we have proceeded to many interventions on government level. There is also cooperation with the local associations AMEA of Rethymnon Prefecture, so as to confront many, already problems.
My involvement to these sections- she mentions- constitutes a soul-destroying process, indeed. At times, I have used my feminine intuition to avoid reaching a deadlock and other times I behave as a mother, a sister and a friend. However, after a hard day- she continued- I feel full and absolutely satisfied as only a woman and a mother can feel; a mother who always gives without expecting anything in return. I firmly believe, then, that a woman’s character helps taking over the necessary responsibilities, beyond knowledge, offering a warm and caring look, tenderness and love. Concerning her accession to the office of prefectorial councilor Mrs. Gianna Kefalogianni-Birliraki underlined that “Crete is, undoubtedly, a region with special characteristics which contribute in a positive way to the development of feminine activities in all fields: political, social, scientific, artistic e.t.c.
Among those characteristics are respect and support, which the Cretan women relish by the male popularity of the island .It is like the sky that embraces the Earth. Especially, the Cretan women, today, can go far in life if she has abilities, will to succeed and stamina and above all love for what she wants to deal with.
Curriculum Vitae
She was born in Anogeia, Crete in 1958.Her parents are Vassilis Kefalogiannis and Persefoni Sbokou. She is married to Nick Birlirakis, president of the Union of Agricultural Co-operatives of Rethymnon and has two children, Vasia and Constantinos. Since 1984 she permanently lives and works in Rethymnon. She became a member of the Hellenic Socialistic Party (ΠΑΣΟΚ) since its onset. Today, she is a member of the Regional Committee in Crete, responsible for the Sector of Consultation and Cooperation with Institutional Social Associates and Mass Movements. She is the Secretary General of the LABOUR CENTRE of Rethymnon and responsible for the Equality of sexes Office. She is the president of the Accountants Association and Officials of Private Enterprises of Rethymnon Prefecture. She is the president of the Children’s Cultural Centre (ΠΑΙ.ΠΟ.Κ). She is the vice-president at the Institute of Labor at Γ.Σ.Ε.Ε. (Regional Committee).She is a member of Π.Ε.Ε.Κ.Α (Regional Committee for Professional Constitution) of the Regional Council as a representative of the LABOUR CENTRE of Crete. She is the president of the Prefectorial Committee of the Equality of sexes Office ( Ν.Ε.Ι.) of Rethymnon. She is a member of the Financial and Social Committee (O.K.E.) of Rethymnon. She is a member of the Co-ordination of the Female Associations of Rethymnon. She currently works in Ο.Α.ΔΥ.Κ. (an organization for the development in West Crete) in the post of a foreman and she is responsible of Public Relations and Secretaryship. Finally, she is an elected prefectural councilor, responsible for the emigrants-immigrants sector and sensitive social groups as well as the representative of the prefectural Government of Rethymnon to ΕΝΑΕ.