[MANNAM INT'L] The color & volunteering

[MANNAM INT'L] The color & volunteering

Oxford dictionary says ‘volunteer’ is to freely offer to do something. However, today I would want to describe the volunteering in a simile of color. 

There are numerous colors in this world, so as there are so many different and various ways to help others. As we do not notice beautiful colors surrounded us sometimes, we do not notice the spirit of volunteering in our daily life. 

Simple picking a trash or holding a door for someone is a beautiful act of volunteering. 

 If you agree with my writing, you might also enjoy the video clip below. It is a short video about color and volunteering. Hope you like this video!

MANNAM Volunteer Association

[MANNAM] Volunteer for Animals: Visiting An Animal Shelter

A dog is often considered to be a man’s best friend. Therefore, dogs have been more loved by men compared to any other animal. However, unfortunately, there are so many abandoned dogs in Korea. Usually, when people don’t want to take care of an aging dog, pay medical expenses for an ill dog, or simply get bored with dogs, dogs will be abandoned.

Once in a month, members of MANNAM International Volunteer Association go to an animal shelter to do volunteer work for dogs abandoned or lost by their owners. Most dogs in the animal shelters have been hurt by men, so when they first meet us, they usually bark a lot. However, after members of MANNAM International clean cages for them, walk them, and feed them, most dogs become quiet and show their interest in us.

Having spent hours with dogs in the animal shelter, everyone will smell bad. However, we are also very happy, since we can offer our time and skills to aid the communities by participating in events that promote the principles of peace, unity and volunteer service. 

[MANNAM] Volunteer For Nature: Picking Up Garbage Around Gyeongpo Reservoir

All human beings on the earth live on light, rain, and air in the sky. Without any one of them, nobody can live. We don’t know exactly from when, but the sky has been giving us all of them without any change. The unchanging love of nature is very similar to one of the MANNAM Principles, which is giving without expectation. To learn the great love the sky shows us, we MANNAM International volunteers went to pick up garbage around Gyeongpo Reservoir.

It was a winter day. There was snow still on the ground. We MANNAM International volunteers walked along the road with a plastic bag in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other hand. Whenever there was garbage, we picked it up. After about three hours, four plastic bags were filled with garbage.

At that very moment, there was a smile on every MANNAM International volunteer’s face. Our ears, hands, and feet were frozen, but the smiles melted our heart. We felt a sense of achievement, pride, and happiness. It was the best moment for everybody as a volunteer.

Our work might be small, but we did make Gyeongpo Reservoir a cleaner place. If there are more volunteers joining us next time, we can pick up more garbage and make our nature much cleaner. 

MANNAM: The Hero

MANNAM friends! I want to ask a question to you!

Who is your HERO?

Batman? Spiderman? or other strong and fancy heroes in movies?

There are many heroes in the world but for kids of incarcerated parent, Pushpa Basnet.is their hero!

Who is Puspha Basent?

She is Nepalese who runs a day care program for children under age 6, and also runs a home for children of incarcerated parents. She started to help children ever since she saw the eyes of 8-months boy who lives in the jail his mother is in prison.

When she first started helping kids living in the prison, she was only 21 years old.

And so far, she has helps more than 140 children and elected as 2012 top CNN Hero.

Puspha Basent said "I had a very fortunate life, with a good education," Basnet said, "I should give it to somebody else."

Isn't it inspiring?

If you share your heart to kids who needs love, you can be their hero.

If you make Kimchi and share it with people who needs, then you can be their hero.

Carrying coals and setting up the fallen rice plants from typhoon will make you a hero since your action is for someone.

If you help old lady who needs helps, then you can be her hero.

Being hero doesn't require the fancy technological suit like Batman does.

All you need is to take an action of your caring heart, and that is what MANNAM does.

As our principal, we, MANNAM volunteer association strive to be a source of light and hope for others, not accepting payment for services rendered through MANNAM.

Hope you join MANNAM's volunteer work in the future, and let’s be the hero of the other people who needs your super power and caring heart.

Here's CNN article about 2012 Top 10 CNN Hero: Pushpa Basnet!

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/19/world/cnnheroes-pushpa-basnet-interview/index.html

 
Reference from CNN news http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/15/world/cnnheroes-basnet-nepal-prisons/index.html

1 Year As A MANNAM International Volunteer

Among dozens of MANNAM volunteer activities in 2012, as for me, one of the most impressive activities was spending time with children in kid’s center.

As a foreigner, I had always had a mind to do some volunteer activities in Korea, but I didn’t know where I can. Fortunately, I got to know MANNAM International and began to do volunteer activity in kid’s center every month.

As for the children, they had never met so many foreigners at one time, so they were very curious about us and always asked, “Where are you from, teacher?”, “Do you have Korean name?”, or “How old are you, teacher?” and so on. Some questions may not proper to ask in non-Korean countries, but every MANNAM International volunteer answered their questions so honestly without any unpleasant feeling. I didn’t know why, but every time when I was with the children, all my heart and soul seemed to become so pure and free, and I myself got purified.

Among the activities we did in kid’s center, there was time for children to decorate food. Every time, we would cook in advance and brought the food to the kid’s center. We made food such as pan cake, brownies, and parfait. After decorating the food, when it’s time for children to enjoy their food, there would be always some children coming up to MAMMAN International volunteers and distribute theirs to us. At that moment, every volunteer felt so proud, happy, and even surprised. We knew what food means to a child! Sharing their food with us, it’s a signal showing that they opened their hearts and wanted to spend time with us. It was the best reward for us. What we did was only taking bus, going to child center and playing games with the children. However, every time, we received much more than we gave.

If I am asked what the most valuable thing I did in 2012, my answer will definitely be going to the kid’s center. It is so beautiful that people from all over the world, transcending the bounds of race, nationality, and religion, bringing laughter and warmth to the world and sharing love together.