The idea for the non-profit-association “SYNERGAZOMAI” was born two years ago, on a Christmas Eve, when we were informed that there was a family with three young children, living in their car for about a month. The parents were unemployed; they couldn’t afford their expenses, so they decided to live in this way. Fortunately the local community was motivated and through the children’s school a suitable solution was found. In cooperation with the Solidarity Club of the Local Residents we managed to give this family a new home. Basic needs, such as food, healthcare and psychosocial support were covered.  Finally, the parents were soon trained /employed and managed to take control of their lives again.
It was important to us that our efforts would not be regarded as charity to people in need, nor as part of a program with certain beneficiaries. These people were treated as friends who needed a place to stay until their home was ready.
We will never forget this Christmas. This was the experience that guided our course of action. Someone might think: “This is simply another story, one of many, we hear about these days! What’s so different about it? Maybe it is just another success story.”
A success story for whom?
Unfortunately, these people did not appreciate our efforts. They left the house, leaving unpaid utility bills to the owners who provided it to them. We were disappointed, bitter and angry at first.
Some of us thought that a good deed needs no further recognition. Others were troubled. We asked ourselves: “What did we do wrong? How are we responsible?”. We soon knew the answer. We were misunderstood; our acts were considered as charity rather than solidarity. Our intention, which was not clear to the family, was to understand the family’s difficulties and treat them as our priority. When they manage to take control of their life again, they would join us in order to help more people in need. We wanted to cooperate with them, entering into a circle of giving and receiving, but the family was used to another way.
Thus, we formed our principals. We believe in equal “giving and receiving” among people through forming cooperative relationships.  Our main “capital” comes from human resources. However, it is rather difficult, exhausting and ultimately ineffective, for a small group of volunteers to take care of the needs of many.  Indeed, if those who were benefited could also take care of others, more people would be involved and the results of our efforts would be more viable.
The above story prompted the following thought: “Is it possible that the key lies in the connection between the school and the local community in terms of equal and cooperative participating?” We found out that by applying this model, we can achieve viable results, we can increase our human resources and we can overcome the resistance of the local people, who many times felt used and not appreciated.
All the above lead to the foundation of “SYNERGAZOMAI” and the drafting of its Articles of Incorporation. We hope that this is only the beginning of a new way of thinking and a new way of acting.