Adopt-a-Child: The Initiative That Keeps Giving
Written by Jennifer Marlton
Gwangju has a particularly vibrant and generous community that has long been eager to volunteer or donate to worthy causes. One of these causes is the Gwangju Adopt-a-Child Initiative, which has been running since 2010 and has provided hundreds of presents to children in orphanages in Gwangju. The project has had a huge impact on local orphanages and the community, as it spreads awareness and raises money through its yearly fundraisers. It has an impact not only on Gwangju, but spreads awareness throughout Korea, with volunteers coming from Gwangju’s surrounding cities, such as Jeonju and Suncheon, while others from as far away as Seoul have contributed funds to buy gifts for children.
The initiative’s current co-presidents, Sarah Hale and Karen Vining, have been involved with the initiative for six years and two years, respectively, and are always looking for volunteers to help with various parts of the process. “Each year we get about ten people who are actively involved in organizing, wrapping, gift organizing, gift card making, and gift-buying. We have many more who get involved with fundraising events and who support the organization by buying gifts and donating money,” Vining said.
This year, the initiative will be focusing on two orphanages: Sungbin Girls Orphanage and Ilmaek Boys Orphanage. Between these two orphanages, approximately 70 children will receive gifts. There is a large range of gifts, and they are usually things the children would not be able to get by themselves. These can include clothes, face cream, and hair supplies for older children, while younger children often receive toys that they can then pass on to other children as they get older. If you would like to donate a gift, you can contact the initiative via its website or Facebook page (links below) to get pointed in the right direction.
Here is how the process works: There is a Google Doc that anyone can sign up on. Participants indicate whether they want to buy a gift or donate money. One of the coordinators will then send them an email with instructions on how to transfer the money or what gift they need to purchase. No matter what the participants decide, they get the name and age of the child they are providing for. Alternatively, gifts can be dropped off at the Gwangju International Center downtown.
In addition to gift-buying and money donations, the initiative is always looking for volunteers to join in on Saturdays when there is a one-hour session at the Sungbin Girls Orphanage. The group meets up every second Saturday at the Starbucks downtown nearest the YMCA and Aladdin Bookstore. The sessions usually go from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and no Korean language skills are needed.
“A group of volunteers goes to the home and plays games, does activities, hangs out, and just spends time with them,” Vining said. They have about 30 volunteers each year who volunteer at least once, and there is usually a break during the holiday periods of August and January. If you want to get involved, you can also bring your own game or activity to do. There are quite a few people who are involved both with the Saturday volunteering sessions and the Adopt-a-Child Initiative.
In anticipation of Christmas, there were several fundraisers held in November of this year. One of these was the Tequilaz Date Auction, a fun event in which people bid to go on a date with someone. There are two other big fundraisers in December to watch out for – Pay to Play and Sunday Brunch.
Pay to Play is a role-playing game in which the players play traditional tabletop games and onlookers can pay to intervene, similar to the sponsors in The Hunger Games. This could either help the players or work to their detriment. “We also do a Sunday Brunch fundraiser in which men dress up in drag and serve brunch at The First Alleyway. It is a lot of fun and everyone enjoys it,” Vining relayed with a smile. “We are aiming to raise at least 1.5 million won this year without including donators.”
“Some years, fundraisers bring in more money than others. Also, the amount of people we get buying gifts and donating money fluctuates,” Vining continued. “However, we are always able to cover the gifts we need.” Many of the fundraisers are held annually, so if you missed out this year, you can always attend next year! News fundraisers and volunteering opportunities are posted on the websites below.
Overall, the initiative is an incredibly worthwhile and rewarding cause to contribute to, and the Gwangju community continues to be generous in its support.
“The Adopt-a-Child Initiative and Saturday volunteering sessions are especially important to me as a Korean adoptee. The greatest part of volunteering is seeing the happiness on the kids’ faces when they open their presents,” Vining said. “Those in the Gwangju community have shown again and again how much they care. It is because of them that we are able to give so many kids a happy Christmas. We hope that we can continue to rely on the support of the Gwangju community in future years.”
The deadline for donations is December 10th.
Website links:
Adopt a Child website: www.adoptachildgwangju.org
Adopt a Child Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/adoptachildchristmasgwangju
Saturday Volunteering Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252697638741530
Gwangju Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gwangjugroup
Gwangju International Center website: http://eng.gic.or.kr/
Gwangju International Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gwangjuic/
To donate:
KEB-Hana Account Number: 620-204731-229
The Author
Jennifer has been living in Korea for just over a year and in that time has experienced many facets of Korean life. She is very interested in culture and traveling and there has been a lot to explore in Gwangju and the surrounding regions. She has a major in journalism and has enjoyed getting back into writing while in Gwangju.