Good People Director An Jeong-bok: “You can save a life with 30,000 won a month.”
2014-03-06 17:28
* During the Lenten Season, as we meditate on the Passion of Jesus, Good People is carrying out a campaign to be with our suffering neighbors.
“As director of an international relief and development NGO, I have met numerous poor, sick, lonely and hurt persons in global villages. The hardest thing is to face dying children who have never had a single experience of eating until full. We’re on a diet for the sake of being healthy, and on the other side of the world, the only hope in their life is the relief porridge. This polarized difference is just unbelievable.”
Good People Director An Jeong-bok (photo) continued, “Why do these children have to go through such hunger and pain?… It is hard to pinpoint whom to blame; it is not possible to change the situation at once... I feel a very heavy responsibility.”
The issue of hunger is a complex problem of each country’s natural environment, food, hygiene, public health and distribution of wealth, all of which are interrelated. Except for providing emergency food and nutrition for hungry newborns and children, continuing food support is not recommended because it can prevent the local residents from becoming self-reliant and turn into unilateral aid. This is the reason Director An emphasizes the importance of one-on-one sponsorship.
“One-on-one sponsorship is supporting one child and his or her family toward their self-reliance. With 30,000 won a month, you can’t change their lives. But the child will wear a school uniform, go to school, eat nutritious meals, study, and in the long run, change home and local society.”
After all, the most outstanding reason for children’s hunger is poverty. There are three times as many underweight children among the poor, and twice as many in rural areas as in urban areas. The income and financial circumstances of the household are directly related to the children’s nutrition.
“Since we started one-on-one sponsorship, children who used to go out every morning to dig for water, now go to school. Those who previously had to start earning a living right out of elementary school, have gone on to middle school. In this way we hope to reduce the gap in educational levels between rural and urban areas, so that the gap in their income levels will be much smaller when they are grown.”
Director An repeatedly emphasized that we have to search for fundamental solutions through one-on-one sponsorship, moving beyond mere distribution of bread to hungry children. He said that 30,000 won a month can give a child and his or her family a steppingstone to healthy and sound lives.
“With persistent support and attention, a child afflicted with hunger and disease can grow up healthy, have dreams, and make the dreams come true. You’ll see the miracle in your life. Please join this campaign.”
Senior Reporter Kim Moo Jeong (kmj@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
◇Good People is an international relief and development NGO holding special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and specializing in development of marginalized regions, poverty eradication, children’s protection, education, disease prevention and medical treatment and emergency rescue.
△One-time Support: Wooribank 1005-502-128597 (Account Holder’s Name: Foundation Good People International)
△ARS: 060-700-1544 (10,000 won a call)
△Support Inquiries: 02)783-2291· www.goodpeople.or.kr
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