On March 21, the day before United Nations World Water Day, I met Deacon Cho, along with Deacons Gwon Seong-hui (68) and Kang Jeong-hui (56), from left to right in the photo, at the headquarters of international relief NGO World Vision in Yeouido, Seoul. They seemed to feel awkward, saying repeatedly, “What we’re doing isn’t anything glamorous…”
Each year since 2010, a group of members of Sungduck Presbyterian Church (Rev. Min Gyeong-un) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, have been supporting the drinking water project in Africa through World Vision. Currently there are six members in the group, including Cho, Gwon, and Kang, who make regular contributions to their annual 10 million-won fund, which turns into water pumps in Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Uganda, and Sudan, providing clean drinking water to local residents.
World Vision carries out drinking-water projects in some 50 countries throughout the world. A staff member explained, “Indiscriminate development activities in developing countries contaminate rivers and oceans, and drinking water is becoming ever scarcer. This group Haneulsaem (Fountain from Heaven) builds awareness that clean water is priceless, and that everyone has the right to drink clean water. It’s a very meaningful movement.”
Reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok & provided by World Vision
Full Story in Korean:
누구라도 그 물 마시고 하나님 사랑 느끼길: 8년째 아프리카에 우물 파주기 지원 서울 성덕교회 성도모임 ‘하늘샘’