The name Dodecanese, literally meaning "The Twelve islands" denotes an island group of fifteen larger and more than one hundred fifty smaller islands in the Aegean Archipelago. It is consisted of Agathonisi, Astypalaea,Chalki, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Kos,Lipsi, Leros,Nisyros, Patmos,Rhodes, Symi and Tilos and by smaller islands such as Arkii, Farmakonisi, Kinaros, Pserimos, Telendos and many others. Our organization, the Federation of the Dodecanese Islands Associations, was founded on the 16th of June 1982 by the members of the Dodecanese community of Athens and Piraeus. The basic objective of the Federation is the protection and the preservation of the local natural and cultural heritage. Due to the variety of the local artisan tradition (traditional architecture, artistic ceramics and its amazing historical monuments and buildings (churches, castles, ancient theaters, towns and many more) the region is considered an authentic cultural patrimony. Main aims of the Federation: - Promote cultural heritage; - Committed in cultural and social activities at regional, national and European level; - Encourage initiatives for the civic education of citizens to increase - Mobilize citizens at local level to claim and obtain equal opportunities; - Debate on concrete issues from the local, national and European social and political agendas; - Promote local interests to the national government;