Song is known as an extraordinary foreigner. One reason is that he speaks fluent Kazakh with an extensive vocabulary. Both Russian and Kazakh are official languages in Kazakhstan, but most Kazakhstanis are more accustomed to speaking Russian, even after the country gained independence in 1991 from the former United Soviet Socialist Republics. The second reason is that he started up the centers in the poorest region of Karaganda. But people no longer come to this area for crimes, drugs, or alcohol. The 200-meter entry road is still unpaved and turns to mud whenever it rains, but the children love to come to the centers.
Song’s motive for coming and sharing his love with Kazakhstan was that he realized, after a thorough examination and surveys of local residents, that an NGO mission would work best there. In 2005, he joined fully in the KFHI project.
Song set up an educational organization within the local legal boundaries, while learning Kazakh and living among the local people. He built up friendships with public officials and staff members of related organizations. He was also able to help neighbors in economic difficulty, by providing clothing and other relief materials sent from KFHI.
In an interview on May 11, Song said, “Through an exhaustive social-scientific survey, we came to learn that the children here had nowhere to go after school, and were exposed to drinking and drugs. We found that the parents passionately wanted their children to be educated, but lacked sufficient means to accomplish this. So we decided to establish an education and welfare center.”
His various efforts were recognized by the principals of nearby schools. Thanks to their recommendations, Song received the Kazakhstan Education Minister’s award in 2012.
Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic country with 130 some ethnic groups. It also has a special relationship with Korea. In 1937, approximately 100,000 Koreans (Koryeo-in) living in the Maritime Territory (Primorsky Kray) were forced to move to Kazakhstan due to the former USSR’s migration policy, and their descendents still live there. Song said, “Kazakhstan is closely related to Korean history. I hope the Korean people will remember this place and send their love.”
Article and photos by reporter Sangmok Shin (smshin@kmib.co.kr), from Karaganda (Kazakhstan), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
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