Rhodes’ unsung heroes are its future

Armed with smartphones, their own cars and the occasional shovel, Gen Zers and Millennials raced to forests, villages and businesses in an effort to protect, save and support the island of Rhodes. Filling the gaps in resources, trained volunteers, evacuation plans, and local coordinating mechanisms, Rhodians used social media and their knowledge of the land, its people and the travel value chain to make the difference.

Flying in the face of negative data about the levels of civic participation and social capital in Greece, Rhodians of all ages were the indisputable game-changers leading to the safe evacuation of 20,000 tourists and defense of their villages. On the fire front, some assisted the trained volunteers by carrying hoses, felling trees, translating, and scouring the scorched earth to fight flare-ups. Others kept watch, evacuated animals and people, and helped with...