Leadership through KΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ (KINONOS

Leadership Through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ (KINONÓS)

by Evelyn Pittas, KΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ Advisor, Academy, English Faculty

Chasiotis, Konstantinos (KΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ Leader 2019-2020)

Ghoneim, Raneem (Leader of the Economic and Finance Committee)

Gregoriou, Alexandra (Leader of the Interaction Committee)

Soulanticas, Emma (Leader of the Fundraising Committee)

Srouji, Marios (Leader of the Presentation Committee)

The ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ (Kinonós) school-wide service club was founded by Lydia Pinirou, ACS Athens graduate, Class of 2019. It was her humility, her inner strength, and her drive to accomplish greatness that became her driving force to create change and make a positive impact on our community and society at large, while remaining humble in her leadership but not afraid to stand up for what is right. Thus, ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ came to be in 2018. Lydia stands as a bright example for the ACS Athens community of what it means to serve humanity while leading as a conscious citizen, exemplifying the virtues of leadership as explained in the 2003 publication titled The 7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership by Carolyn Barker.1

Following in her footsteps, is a group of student members with their leaders who also share this strong sense of justice and fairness through community work. They have applied and demonstrated the virtues of leadership throughout the year and are dedicated and devoted to continue doing so! Both the members and the leaders have displayed the kind of discipline and tenacity that has allowed them to reach and achieve our school-wide purpose of sending conscious citizens out into the world, turning global goals into a local reality.

The first quality of leadership, according to Barker, is to lead with humility. This means that one does not allow his ego to get in the way of doing what is right or use his position for his own good. When one leads with humility one accepts the position given to him, and uses it on behalf of others. Humility is the virtue of being able to put others before you. The significance of this virtue is vast, as it is the driving force of a leader, who needs to be able to take into account those around him, rather than just himself. Being humble does not mean degrading yourself by any means; rather it means wanting to benefit more than just yourself. Humility unites people and is the silver lining that allows people to see the good in others. Individuals who possess this virtue are those who are sympathetic towards those around them, and who are truly genuine, caring people. This virtue is what embodies ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ. The global pandemic has allowed us to reflect on priorities and things we took for granted. Humility is what subconsciously drove us to donate Easter eggs to the homeless, and to promote numerous clothing and food drives. The sustainable development goal of “Good Health and Well-Being” represents the objective of ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ, ensuring that the homeless are cared for. During a pandemic, when times can be very uncertain and scary, a small gesture such as offering Easter eggs during a religious holiday is a simple act that speaks volumes. Taking into account the well-being of others is truly a noble principle to live by. The club has shifted my perspective of the world, and the way I choose to interact with people I meet. Taking the time to truly connect and sympathize with those who are less fortunate, and being given the opportunity to help them, even through a weekly clothing and food drive, is truly eye-opening. The virtue of humility is found within all aspects of our lives, and by accepting it, and choosing to live by it, makes the world a better place filled with individuals who strive to lift each other up. Humility means that one pursues a noble dream in a noble way! To do this, it often takes the second of the virtues – courage (Alexandra Gregoriou, Leader of the Interaction Committee).

Courage is about doing what one believes to be the right thing despite the consequences. It is not about

the absence of fear; it is about caring enough about one’s values that one bravely upholds them in the face of personal risk. A courageous leader does not always expect to be popular. Popularity is a very fleeting thing, and if one gains popularity by giving into pressure to do something one may find that the feeling of letting himself down is much worse than temporarily being out of favor. Facing a hard time from others because one does what is right may strip one of his popularity, but it is unlikely to strip one of his self-respect or the respect of others. Volunteering with KOINWNOS helped me realize that helping is not just going down to the center of Athens and handing out food to the homeless; rather it is about connecting with the lives of others. Through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ I achieved inner peace and felt renewed. Everybody knows that volunteering is satisfying; however, only after you have experienced it, you truly know how rewarding and life-changing it really is (Marios Srouji, Leader of Presentation Committee).

Integrity is another important quality of leadership. Integrity is not easy to define; however, what is certain is that integrity serves as a moral and ethical foundation that safeguards anyone from deviation in their principles and convictions. This loyalty to ethics guarantees that fundamentally, a person is “good”. People are willing to work and follow those who lead with ethics and truth, as the foundations of a village, community, and even a high school club lie in the integrity of their leader. This is not to say that integrity is limited to leaders. Those with integrity “do the right thing when nobody’s watching”, and in the case of ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ, this means remaining committed to our effort, despite the hardships of the ongoing pandemic. This can be attributed to our partnership for our goals. Before the pandemic, I was able to organize bake sales in order to raise funds, and this occurred through partnership between students, teachers, and club members. As the pandemic broke out, we realized that we could no longer physically work towards our goal, and yet, we still ensured that we were meeting (virtually) and making efforts to communicate with the organization we partnered with. I realize now more than ever that I am in a position to influence and inspire others in a positive manner, providing aid to those who do not have access to the same privileges as I do. I realize that the integrity that each individual possesses translates to an entire community (Emma Soulanticas, Leader of the Fundraising Committee)

The fourth virtue of leadership is compassion. This is defined as deep and profound awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it. To lead with compassion is to treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves. Being compassionate is related to empathy. One is able to feel the other’s pain and is willing to help without expecting anything in return. A compassionate leader senses the emotions of those around him. Compassion has helped me understand its impact through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ, especially during COVID-19. During the lockdown it was extremely hard for the homeless to find food or water; while everyone was safe in their homes, and protected. The homeless of Athens do not have such luxury, living on the streets, alone, unsafe. It was our obligation to help them. This obligation derives from compassion, a necessity which was far more important than the measures imposed upon all of us at the time of lockdown. SDG 1“No Poverty” is related to ending poverty in all its forms around the globe, ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ has contributed into improving the development of such a goal. The homeless of Athens are not in the current position of living a stable lifestyle. Therefore, through fundraisers, donations of food and clothes, but also night interactions, ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ has tried to improve the poverty these people are experiencing, simply by giving them whatever they are not able to own, even if that contribution lasts for one or two days. Through the donation of the 300 Easter eggs we were able to provide the happiness people needed despite our lack of presence, due to the pandemic. Through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ I have had the chance to see the world through the eyes of those who suffer. My main concern is to make this world a better place for the less fortunate who deserve to be treated equally. I have had the chance to realize and appreciate what life has generously given me. My dream is to communicate this experience to others, so that they can follow in my footsteps and transform this world into a better place (Konstantinos Chasiotis, ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ Leader 2019-2020).

Humor is having the ability of finding ease and satire in stressful situations. Humor acts as the bridge between quitting and persevering, as it essentially provides an individual with a different perspective on any situation in hand. This leadership virtue is one of the only virtues that has a strong link with one’s mental state as it allows them to “find the light in the darkness”. Unfortunately, not everyone is seen to possess this form of humor, seeing as though in today’s time, individuals tend to give up more easily than before. That is why, as the leader of the ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ Economic and Finance Committee, I tend to view the lives of the homeless through an economic lens. This immediately gives me the advantage of thinking and formulating different plans that can lead to the homeless seeing life with more light. More specifically, during this COVID-19 pandemic, humor has helped me understand its impact through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ, since this club is all about hope, and the light we can become for the less fortunate. Humor, as a virtue can be strongly connected to the Sustainable Development Goal of “No Poverty”. This is mainly because with humor comes perspective and the ability to defuse any given situation the right way. This leads to taking initiative, like thinking of projects that can lower poverty rates. I now have a clearer picture regarding the bridge between the SDG, ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ and COVID-19; I believe that monetary value allows people to achieve their physiological needs, and once that is achieved, then every other need becomes easier. Thus, I have matured greatly through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ and this virtue as I am able to see the light in dark situations and to spread this light to those who unfortunately are not able to (Raneem Ghoneim, Leader of the Economic and Finance Committee).

Passion can be seen as the virtue that causes one to act. Passion leads to purpose and this purpose turns into motivation that aids in accomplishing the impossible; overcoming the obstacle. Living in society today is like running a race; at first you explode off the blocks with high power and no obstacles deterring the way. Then, about halfway to the finish line, your muscles tense up, your legs become weaker your breath become heavier and you start to lose your motivation to continue; the same way that life can throw obstacles at you. That is where passion kicks in; however, this passion re-fuels your body in order to continue the race. Without passion, all of us would be stuck in a bottomless pit of apathy and indifference. As a leader of the ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ Economic and Financial Committee, the main area I was able to recognize this passion was actually through the homeless. They possess passion and perseverance to such a high extent, as they believe that there will be a better end; they are willing to take that stride. During this COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense for the homeless to lose all hope and passion as they are indirectly impacted by the economic recession. One SDG present through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ is that of “good health and well-being.” This is mainly because with the help of the club and the integrated work of all leaders, the homeless are able to maintain a healthy life which thus leads to a passion to continue living. I am provided with a perspective that passion can come in many different forms, but in order to be passionate and have purpose, then one must overcome the gap between poverty and wealth. That is why it is my duty to always provide motivation to anyone in need, whenever it is needed. Therefore, I have learnt that economic support is the backbone of feeling passionate, and it is the fuel to finish the race (Raneem Ghoneim, Leader of the Economic and Finance Committee).

The final leadership virtue is wisdom. Wisdom is a quality of character that guides an individual towards making the good or optimal decision. In order to do so, they do not have to be “smart”, but rather they must view the world through various perspectives. Wisdom is a virtue that is built over time, and through experiences. Those that lack wisdom may make decisions that ultimately damage a number of people, regardless of how moral their intentions. Those that lead with wisdom are able to think quickly but also effectively. It is this wisdom, this quick and effective leadership I have seen in ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ that allows us to do so much to “transform our world” and ensure (to the best of our abilities) the good health and well-being of the homeless in Athens. Organizing a clothing drive was one of our efforts to do so, and the project allowed us to donate plenty of clothing and bedding for our cause. We not only had good intentions but provided something practical to their well-being. The outbreak of COVID-19 meant that we had to halt our efforts, as we no longer had a platform through which to collect the clothing. It is important in these times to consider the health and well-being of those who do not have homes to quarantine in. COVID-19 demonstrated that countries with wise leaders suffered less than countries whose leaders acted hastily. A wise leader is someone who can retain their moral high ground regarding their decisions, even in times of crisis (Emma Soulanticas, Leader of the Fundraising Committee).

As the ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ advisor, I learned that the most powerful voice is that of the students; I learned how the sharing of self is one of their biggest pleasures. They are compassionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic. I learned that as our students interact with the homeless of Athens through ΚΟΙΝΩΝΟΣ, they improve their own lives, the lives of others, and the dilemmas and misfortunes the world faces on a daily basis. ACS, Athens nurtures a diverse fabric of human beings, and they each have a strong voice in enacting change and promoting a more just world as it is their leadership that defines their generation!

Work Cited Barker, Carolyn. The 7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership. McGraw-Hill, 2003. Print.

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KOINWNOS Leaders meeting virtually during COVID-19 lockdown

KOINWNOS members preparing for the food and clothing drives