MANNAM 'PEACE IS POSSIBLE': interview of a student volunteer.

MANNAM 'PEACE IS POSSIBLE': interview of a student volunteer.


Thesedays, lots of the twenties are studying for good grades at school and good occupation in society, day and night. I have interviewed one of the 20's university student who is steadily doing volunteer work in MANNAM volunteer association.


Q1.If you did the things related with volunteer work before, what was the most memorable volunteer work for you?

A:For me, the most memorable volunteer work was to help flood victimes through MANNAM Volunteer Association. A few years ago, landslide occured near SoYang multipurpose dam in Chuncheon Korea. So I was helping the people who lost their houses and farms with MANNAM one day. Actually, Volunteering to people in that site suffering from landslide was the first time in my life. It was quite beyond expectation. Every place was a mess by the flood and there were many things to be take care of. The volunteer work was really a hard job for all of us. All volunteers were worn out. But no one showed their exhaustion by thinking the flood victims. Even though that was my hardest volunteer work ever, also it still remains as my best volunteer work ever because I still remember the flood victims saying "Thank you" to us with their tears.

Q2.When you volunteer, what kind of mental attitude do you volunteer with?

A: First of all, I volunteer with pleasure and gratitude that I can be a person who can help others. I realized that no one is worthless. Not only me but also everyone is precious because they are needed somewhere.

Q3.Do you think world peace is possible?

A: Yes, it is possible. If mankind on earth love and respect one another, world peace will come true. Q.Then, what is the first thing you can do for world peace? A:I am trying to bring world peace by volunteering in MANNAN International volunteer Association. All members in MANNAN are giving their hand to the world keeping hope and the hope for better life in mind. I appreciate your kind reply:)



[MANNAM] Visiting Kids Center Epilogue by Urantuya, Mongolian

[MANNAM] Visiting Kids Center Epilogue by Urantuya, Mongolian

Эцэг эхгүй ч юмуу эсвэл ар гэрийн боломжгүйгээс гудамжинд эсвэл асрамжинд байдаг хүүхдүүдийг харахаар маш өрөвдөлтөй санагддаг. Уг нь энэ хүүхдүүд эцэг эхийн халамжинд аз жаргалыг мэдэрч сайн сайхан байх ёстой юмсан гэж бодогддог. Мөн тэр эцэг эхийн хайр халамж дутсан тэдгээр хүүхдүүдэд туслан бага ч гэсэн сэтгэлийн дэм өгнө гэдэг миний хувьд маш сайхан зүйл юм. Тиймээс ч асрамжийн газар нэг удаа ч болтугай очиж үзэх юмсан гэсэн бодол байдаг байсан. Ингээд нэгэн өдөр энэхүү бодолоо биелүүлэх боломж олдсон юм. Асрамжийн газар руу очих замдаа надаа хэд хэдэн санаа зоволт байлаа. Очоод хүүхдүүд нь яаж хүлээж авах бол? Хэл соёл өөр дээр сайн ойлголцож чадах болов уу? Миний ярьж хэлж байгаа зүйл тэр хүүхдүүдийг эмзэглүүлчих вий дэ? Гэсэн санаа зоволтууд байсан юм. Харин яг очиход уур амьсгал шал өөр байлаа. Хүүхдүүд нь нүүр дүүрэн инээмсэглэлтэй багш нартайгаа маш дотно, сайхан уур амьсгалаар хүлээж авсан. Хүүхдүүдийн нүүрэмгий дотно байдлыг хараад миний санаа зоволтууд ч алга болж нэгэн өд

저는 부모 없거나 부모가 있어도 환경이 어려운 아이들을 보면 너무나 불쌍했습니다. 그리고 고아원은 저한텐 꼭 가 보고 싶은 곳이었습니다. 이렇게 만남 자원봉사단을 통해서 가보고 싶은 고아원에 가게 됐습니다. 고아원 가는 길에 전 사실 걱정하는 게 많이 있었습니다. 보육원이라면 고아원과 비슷한 데라서 아이들이 너무나 불쌍했습니다. 그리고 가면 아이들이 나랑 그렇게 잘 놀 수 있을까? 언어와 문화도 다른데 아이들과 잘 어울리지 않고 상처를 주면 어떻게 할까? 걱정했습니다. 가서 아이들이랑 만났는데 걱정이 다 사라졌습니다. 왜냐하면 아이들 활짝 웃는 모습을 보고 그 걱정들이 사라졌습니다. 아이들이 너무 활달하고 친절했습니다. 그 날 우리는 함께 피자도 해 먹고, 종이 접기도 하고, 즐거운 게임도 많이 했습니다. 봉사활동을 끝내고 헤어질 시간이 되었는데 아이들이 헤어지기 싫어했습니다. 그 날이 그 아이들이랑 만나는 첫 만남이었지만, 저는 또 가고 싶어졌습니다. 또 가서 아이들이랑 더 친해지고 아이들이랑 함께 웃고 세상의 빛을 사랑으로 전하고 싶습니다. 만남자원봉사단을 통해 보육원에 가게 돼서 너무 감사합니다.

I didn't feel good when I see children without parent or children living in difficult environment although they live with their parents. The orphanage was the place I always wanted to make a visit. Through MANNAM volunteer association, I was able to visit the kid center. Actually I had few worries in my head on the way to kids center. Will the kids there feel comfortable playing with me? We have different language and culture, what if I hurt their feeling?  I was worried. However, once I met the kids, all my worries solved out at the moment I saw cheerful smiles on their faces. Children there were so cheerful and kind. On that day, we cooked pizza, did origami and played fun games. After the visit, it was time for us to say goodbye. Then, children didn't want us to leave. It was first time for me to meet those children, but I wanted to visit their again. I want to meet children again and be closer with them. Also, I want to laugh together with them and share the light of the world through love. I really appreciate that I was ale to visit kids center through MANNAM volunteer association. 

[MANNAM] MANNAM Culture Tour Epilogue #1

First of all, I would like to give thanks to MANNAM organization. Because without MANNAM organization, we never meet each other. Working since for 2 years in Gangneung, before meet you guys I had felt loneliness, helpless and felt like I don’t have such place to call home. But after meeting MANNAM people, I really feel happiness and so excited. About last Sunday, I really had great time with you and MANNAM friend. I had lot fun and enjoyed it very much. The Tofu lunch was my first delicious food in Korea. I ate a lot. I didn’t ride cycling with MANNAM friend, but I enjoyed a lot. I had no idea about this city and Korean culture and language. I gained opportunity to learn everything. I heard about historical place, O-Juk-Heon. I visited there with you guys. It was great visit. I like to say few words. MANNAM people are working so amazingly and feel graceful. MANNAM people’s mindset are so nice.

MANNAM: Victory Sign For Peace!

Can you make a V-sign with your fingers? Which fingers are you using to make a V-shape? Are you using your second and third finger? In MANNAM, there is a special way of making a V-sign.

                                  

MANNAM victory sign looks like this! We use thumb and the second finger to make a V-figure, instead of using the second and middle fingers. MANNAM's V-sign stands for our slogan “When Light Meets Light, There Is Victory!”

I will tell you how this slogan can be related with V-sign. Firstly, the 'light' in MANNAM's slogan refers to the culture of individuals. Then point you with the thumb, this action refers to the 'light of yourself'. Secondly, point others with the second finger, which represents the 'light of others’. The overall shape of V-shape represents the victory that is created by the lights of you and others.  As our slogan, when the light, your culture meets another light, the culture of others, it creates the victory!

So next time when you take a picture, remember MANNAM's Victory-sign, which represents our slogan!

VICTORY!

[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. 

Principles Of MANNAM

l     Pure Volunteerism

We embody the spirit of pure volunteerism and work to promote unity among the peoples and the cultures of the world.

l     Celebrating Communities

We offer our time and skills to aid the communities by participating in events and festivals that promote the principals of peace, unity and volunteer service.

l     Giving without expectation

We strive to be a source of light and hope for others, not accepting payment for services rendered through MANNAM.

l     Reaching out

We aid, uplift and enrich society, starting within our own communities and reaching out to the world. We uphold the principles of justice and equality for all. We do not discriminate against any group or individual longing to work towards peace and unity for all humanity.

MANNAM: Mt.Bukhan Oak Tree Preservation Project

On 2012 Earth day, I went to Seoul to Mt. Bukhan for MANNAM volunteering event.

The forest of Mountain Bukhan is one of the biggest national parks in Korea.

But this famous nation park was devastated by oak wilt disease.

Therefore,they needs people helps to save trees.

So I decided to particpate the volunteer work!

By the way, what is oak wilt disease?

Oak wilt is a fungal disease that kills oak trees.

When tree is infected with Oak wilt, the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum blocks the path of carrying the water and minerals, which kills the tree at the end.

(Actually I didn't know about it before I participated in MANAM oak tree preservation Project. :-)

Our initial plan was to wrap the tress with roll trap to prevent the spread of oak wilt disease. On the roll trap, there is some solution that kills the fungus so, if it can save tree from oak will disease.

BUT THEN!

On the Earth day, the weather was rainy!

Due to rains, I didn't get a chance to involved in wrapping. The roll trap wouldn't be wrapped tightly enough in the raining weather.

Instead, we carried the soil to covered the exposed roots of trees.

There were soil bags that need to be carried to the upper side of mountain.

So all together, we made a long human-line,!

Each of us wore colorful raincoats and passed the soil bag to the person standing on the next one by one and one at the time.

Finally we carried out all the soil bags (it was a lot!)

Because of rain and heavy soil bags, my arm was aching and I was quit tired.

But! I think it was all worthy.

I can't live without oxygen. I am taking privilege from the air that provided by trees, actually not only me. But all of us.

It was a good time since I can give back that unconditional love from natural.  

Not only that, while I participated in Mt.Bukhan Oak tree Preservation Project, I had chance to talked with other volunteers who came from various countries. Across the nations and race, we did volunteer work together as human-being who want to thank back to natural who provide air to us unconditionally.   

I go to Seoul sometimes, but my visit to Seoul for MANNAM volunteer work on Earth day, would be my most meaningful trip to Seoul.

Here are asome youtube link for MANNAM volunteer work:

Bukhan Mt. Oak Tree Prservation Project!!

Mannam 2012 Earth Day Event - Promo1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V46JMw2lp7s

Mannam 2012 Earth Day Event - Promo2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaTT1UcG8Sk

 Mannam 2012 Earth Day Event - Promo3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaTT1UcG8Sk