why this name? why the Samaritans?

The name of the Samaritans was chosen as representing the main idea of the team - Christian charity and care for those children and groups who are underprivileged and neglected in our society.

We were inspired for the name by the Biblical parable, told in St.Luke's Gospel, chapter 10, verses 25 - 37. According to it Jesus Christ was challenged by a religious leader to comment some of the most fundamental issues, related with the meaning of human existence - the justification in front of God, the pursuit of eternal life, the relationships with our fellow creatures. As an answer to this challenge Jesus Christ told the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It was about a man who fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him from his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. Accidental passers-by, representatives of various social groups, seeing the man in need, did nothing to help, although they were expected to be morally and socially responsible. At last a Samaritan saw the dying man and immediately offered his help. He bandaged his wounds, put him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and paid everything needed for his recovery. On the following day, before going away, he told the innkeeper to go on looking after the wounded man and if the expenses were more than the money he had given, he would reimburse them later.

What is shocking in this story is the fact that the Samaritans were the most contemptible social subgroup at that time. Nobody would have expected such a virtuous and socially responsible deed from a Samaritan. People thought that social responsibility could be found in the circle of people (Levites, priests), who had the social support, vocation and resources to offer help. In this way Jesus Christ made the conclusion that your real neighbors are these people who will offer their help notwithstading the circumstances. Finally Jesus Christ put an end to the dispute with his opponent, encouraging him to show real charity to people.

The example of the Good Samaritan is a measurement of many virtues - charity, social responsibility, efficient help for the underprivileged and the rejected, social support, high moral standards. So our team decided to adopt the name of the Samaritans with the aim of popularizing and spreading these values and virtues. At the same time we wanted to stick to them in our everyday work with children and families in need. The other substantial reason for the choice of this name was as a sign of gratitude to the first humanitarian organization that supported us financially in the beginning - the Samariter Dienst from Germany. Thanks to their friendship and partnership we were able to set the beginning of a noble mission, directed towards relieving the suffering and pain in the lives of many children and promoting their development.

before the beginning

It is difficult to imagine that a young person could be seriously interested in the problems of the children that all of us meet on the streets every day. The general opinion is that this is not a responsibility of the ordinary people (least of all of the young), but a responsibility of the state. So, when a group of young people from Stara Zagora tried to help the street children in the town, to many people this seemed as a not very logical (not to say suspicious) thing to do.

In April 1998 this informal group of young people started to look for those children who lived on the streets. Every day two volunteers from this group went to the places where these children spent much of their day. They tried to win their trust and friendship, which was not an easy thing to do. The conversations were mainly about things that were of importance to these children - why they are in the street, who are their friends, who helps them, why they don't want to go back home, what they eat, where they sleep? The volunteers improvised games and lessons, sought the assistance of the police or hospitals. They were able to provide coupons, with which the children got a snack and some bread from a small shop in the town. Clean clothes were brought to these children and were gratefully accepted. That is how everything started.

Mission

Samaritans Association mission is to work for complete uniting to the society of children, youths, elderlies and families in risk in Stara Zagora Municipality and to support separate people, groups and communities by realizing of activities and delivering of services, which:
- are based on real necessities;
- co operate and build ability for development of skills for self help in different situations;
- assist the process of integration and encourage self development;
- increased or restored social functions;
- secure help for prevention of different consequences.

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