MANNAM ‘PEACE IS POSSIBLE’: interview of international volunteers

MANNAM ‘PEACE IS POSSIBLE': interview of international volunteers

There are beautiful international volunteers in MANNAM Volunteer Association.
They volunteered at Kids Center and Senior Center. There's no boundary in love and volunteer. Let's figure out why foreign volunteers want to do volunteer.  

Q. Why did you come to Kids Center to do volunteering?

A. We've come to volunteer with these children. Because they don't have parents and we have a lot of free time. So, I miss my little nieces. So, this reminds me my little nieces.

-A Volunteer from England

 

 

Q. Isn't language barrier make you difficult to communicate with children?

A. Definitely language barrier has challenges but that's one thing that I really like about volunteering. Even those sometimes hard to communicate, you can still understand people's heart when you volunteering. So we work together to share love and heart and you can understand it without words

-A Volunteer from USA

 

 

Q. Why did you come to Senior Center to do volunteering?

A. I came here to be a little help for seniors. I want to give them present for Lunar New Year's Day in this way. I wish every seniors in this center get healthy and happy.  

-A Volunteer from kyrgyzstan

 

 

 

 

Q. How was your volunteer day?

A. I was very pleased and very happy. It was glad to see kid' happy smile. I want to visit again.

-A Volunteer from Saudi Arabia

 

Obviously, at the first moment with kids is could be a little awkward. But, as soon as volunteers get started to open their heart, kids do.


As senior said in video, when foreigners volunteer in Korea, it becomes more inspiring to every people. Seniors feel very appreciate that their helps.

But, it's not easy to find the place foreigners can do volunteer. Since MANNAM Volunteer Association have volunteered with foreigners, the number of members is increasing.

MANNAM has a goal 'the World that Stands as One' by exchaning of culture with volunteering.

[MANNAM ‘PEACE IS POSSIBLE’] INTERVIEW : North Korean volunteer

[MANNAM ‘PEACE IS POSSIBLE’] INTERVIEW : North Korean volunteer

I met special friend last week in orphanage. Kim is from North-Korea. I was curious that why she want to do volunteer in South-Korea.

Q: Kim, it’s so great to see you. Because, you know, My grandfather is from North Korea as well. But, since the Military Demarcation Line has created, he never see or meet his family; he doesn’t know whether they are alive or not. How about you? How do you feeling with this situation?

A: Yes, of course I miss my family. The last touch with my family was 3 years ago since when I got out of North Korea 6 years ago. I am the person who really hopes to bring about the unification between South and North Korea. I will be happy even if I can get in touch with my family. This is the story that must happen in the near future.

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Q: Totally I feel the same way. I think you are Korean. But, you must be hard because of something different culture.

A: yeah, still such things happen. Even if I’m speaking in Korean, some of North Korean words sound weird to people. And they get a laugh. One day, my friends asked me to go together ‘Bangsubang방서방’ chicken (Name of famous chicken restaurant.) I asked, “Who is the Bangsubang?” They all laughed out loud. It’s kind of culture gap. But, It makes always happy. Differences could be hard and could be fun to get to know each other.

Q: Why do you want to be a volunteer in MANNAM volunteer association?

A: I naturally got to know one of member of MANNAM volunteer association, working with her at the same company. One of my dreams was going abroad because I was not allowed it in North Korea. Before, it was difficult to have a relationship with foreigners. Maybe, the main reason was unfamiliar with the other cultures. However I can naturally talk with many foreigners by doing volunteer work. When we are doing something good together, we are more likely connected across language. It’s amazing.

Q: What is the memorable volunteer experience?

A: I have my brothers and sisters in North Korea. Now, I can’t see them. I have brothers and sisters in MANNAM volunteer association instead. When I cooked for them, foreign friends were very happy. Every time I explain ‘I’m from north Korea’ in nursing home, old people give me hug or hold my hands. Like this, the memorable moment is when I give something and I take something while I’m volunteering.

Q: Do you think ‘peace is possible’ even in Korea?

A: Absolutely, yeah. I know some people are negative with unification. But for me, I desperately believe it to meet my family again. I think it isn’t just for me.

Q: I believe you will see your family again. I think each of us could be a peace leader since we are hopeful that peace will someday be achieved, so what do you want to do as a peace leader?

A: Well, I liked these words: Understand each other across all borders, religions, races and languages. Understanding will be a clue of peace. Secondly, Unity with foreigners through volunteer: By helping people in need, we could be the one. If reunified, I want to be a wingback between North and South Korea.

[MANNAM] We Maskara with Kids Center.

[MANNAM] We Maskara with Kids Center.

 

We, MANNAM International spent great time with children in orphanage.

We prepared the dance performance for them and played group games together with kids.

We sang songs together, and amazingly, children also sang song for us which was a very touching moment for everybody.

For Masskara, we painted our own mask that portrays our individual identities. Some painted it with vivid colors and some decorated it with beads.

We danced and danced in the paper rain (although the place became quiet messy after the paper rain, Of course we cleaned the place after the event.)

Sharing hard labor work together is also one of great and amazing way to help others. And also, dancing and sharing love is also wonderful way to do volunteer.

We MANNAM International Association helps people and environment in varieties ways.

Here is the video clip of fun time we had with children. Hope you can also feel the love that we felt on that day.

 

 

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[MANNAM] Interview on peace

[MANNAM] Interview on peace

Q1. Do you think world peace is possible?

I think it is possible, because I believe this Earth was once peaceful when it was first created.

                           

Q2. What do you want to do for world peace?

If possible, I’d like to participate many various peace campaigns and events no matter the size of events.

Q3. Have you ever participated in volunteer work? If you had participated, what kind work did you do?

I had participated in Youth Peace Walk, peace campaigns and other volunteer events.

Q4. Why do you participate voluntarily work in MANNAM international association?

In MANNAM international is like a small world where I can exchange cultures with people from various countries, and also do volunteer work together. Not only that, its (which refers to volunteer work) good influences spread out more widely around world throughout people from different countries.

Q5. Is there anything you want to say?

In the future, I hope more people to participate to achieve world peace together. Through us, MANNNAM, I hope many people to be inspired that peace is possible on this Earth. If you participate this peace moment, you will not regret it and it would be one of the most valuable action you took in your lifetime.

[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.