“Volunteering for the Joy I Give and Receive”
The pandemic had brought like-minded KONA volunteers back together, this time via Zoom.
Tag: volunteer
Gwangju Migrant Health Center: For the Healthy Lives of Migrants
The GMHC has more than 70 medical staff (volunteers) who are ready to lend a helping hand. They open their doors to all migrants: students, migrant women, migrant workers, and any who cannot go to medical institutions due to their legal documents or difficulty in communication. Their free medical treatment is offered every Sunday from 1–5 p.m. at their Center in Gwangsan-gu.
Two Stories from KONA Volunteers
KONA volunteering switched from being local to global. People from different countries (Canada, USA, India, etc.) were able to join in the live online storybook readings and discussions. It was a great experience to see people of all ages and backgrounds come together in one screen. We are still doing story maps presentations and story sharing in this way. We can now do volunteering from our home and office through Zoom.
Love Opens Doors to Human Hearts
I like this perspective of love as a miracle incubator. Love as such apparently sheds light on why NGOs in general are so well received wherever they find themselves.
Empower, Seek, Adapt: “Rise Together” at Gwangju’s Refugee Women Bazaar
On the historical grounds of the May 18th square near the Asia Culture Center, the first Refugee Women Bazaar in Gwangju took place. Let me be clear and state that there is a distinct difference between “refugees” and “immigrants.” These women sought refuge in South Korea due to multiple factors ranging from war and political oppression to state-enforced imprisonment. What must be acknowledged is that they ran away from threats. No matter the variables of their individual circumstances, they shared one thought in heart: to seeking a better life.
Tim Warnberg’s Legacy Deserves Notice: Part I
Tim Warnberg was a 24-year-old American Peace Corps volunteer who lived in Gwangju and worked at Chonnam University Hospital as a Hansen’s Disease case worker. During the Uprising, he remained in the city to help take care of the citizens.1 Tim was selfless during that time, doing all that he could to aid the citizens, and he has long been recognized for his contributions. There is no question that Tim played an important role in Gwangju before, during, and after the Uprising.
The Gift of Giving
“Opportunities to share are endless.”
KONA Storybook Experiences of 2021
KONA, the Korean Organization of the Natural Approach, is a UNESCO-sponsored initiative to help underprivileged children to learn English through storybooks. Volunteers assist children in orphanages, at community children centers, at day-care centers, and at the KONA Storybook Center in normal times, and online during pandemic times.