ETHOS • FALL 2021
Interaction Committee, and Financial Committee, KINONOS allows for students to create an environment where they can improve the world they live in. This happens by promoting awareness about the homeless of Athens through social media (Media Team), collecting goods (Financial Committee), and interacting with people every Thursday night (Interaction Committee). Thus, by being directly engaged in achieving the service club’s goals, becoming leaders, and transforming their skills into actions, the members of KINONOS are able to initiate a positive impact and as a result to improve the lives of the people they interact with.
How Does KINONOS (ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ) Promote Conscious Citizenship? by Konstantinos Chasiotis, Academy Student
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he KINONOS (ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ) service club was founded by Ms. Lydia Pinirou, a respected ACS alum in the Fall of 2017. The service club’s name is derived from the Greek word “κοινωνία” meaning “community,” a word that is rooted within the club’s goals. KINONOS refers to the collective effort of a group of people that collaborate in order to achieve a particular goal. KINONOS is composed of students of the ACS Athens Academy who strive to further KINONOS’s goal to understand the needs and challenges of the homeless and assist them to integrate into society, all the while maintaining their dignity. KINONOS works with a Greek non-governmental organization called Plysion, where ACS students volunteer to provide essential commodities to the homeless of Athens. Furthemore, students visit downtown Athens every Thursday night, and interact and share stories with the homeless; thus making them feel that they are part of a much greater family and more specifically, part of this community. Through the work and effort of this student-led service club, ACS Athens students have become aware of the social issues of the world, as they are directly exposed to the harsh reality that is around them. This has created a strong sense of civic responsibility within each member to find a way to serve humanity. This was achieved by the structure of the club, which further allowed students to become conscious citizens. By dividing the service club into three different groups: Media Team,
The actions of KINONOS further contribute to the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. More specifically, the service club’s actions and visions connect with the following goals: “no poverty” (Goal 1), “zero hunger” (Goal 2), and “reduced inequalities” (Goal 10). Goals 1 and 2 are addressed by the student’s actions through the food and clothing drives, thus improving food security and the nutrition of the people. Moreover, Goal 10 is addressed by resolving the issues brought forward through the student’s interactions with the homeless. By understanding the homeless’ demands, ACS students plan fundraisers and reach out to companies such as Barilla and Sklavenitis, in an effort to collect the commodities needed the most by the homeless of Athens. To conclude, having been involved with the club since 9th grade, I feel honored and obliged to continue the KINONOS service club as it has truly been a rewarding experience for me, as well as the rest of the students who are a part of this journey. Through the club, I have become more engaged in understanding and resolving issues in my local city, even if my contribution may be limited relative to the size of the issue. Although these actions may seem small, they certainly play a key role in the fulfillment of larger goals, such as those of the United Nations. One thing is for sure, that in an effort to fulfill these goals, we become more responsible individuals and create a sustainable future, therefore making us conscious citizens. ■
