[NGO Now] Hope Bridge Conducts Disaster Safety Experience Education for People with Developmental Disabilities

Hope Bridge is conducting disaster safety experience education for about 30 children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Hope Bridge

▲ Hope Bridge Conducts Disaster Safety Experience Education for People with Developmental Disabilities

Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association (President Lim Chaecheong) announced on the 11th that it conducted disaster safety experience education for about 30 children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and their support staff at the Dodam Dodam Social Service Center in Gyeonggi Province. The training program focused on a three-step process of "disaster preparedness-prevention-response" and included activities such as safety diagnosis, making disaster safety kits, fire safety experience, daily safety experience, crowd safety experience, and traffic safety experience. A representative from the Dodam Dodam Social Service Center said, "It was a meaningful time for people with developmental disabilities to participate directly, understand disaster situations, and learn how to protect themselves," adding, "Although it is not easy for people with developmental disabilities to respond to disasters on their own, this kind of education will serve as an opportunity to raise awareness and improve response capabilities regarding safety in the long term." Shin Hoon, Secretary General of Hope Bridge, stated, "Hope Bridge is working to create a society where everyone is safe from disasters," and added, "We hope this training will serve as an opportunity for participants to understand crisis situations and learn to protect themselves."

Hope Friends Korea Food for the Hungry held the opening ceremony for the relocation of the "Happy Sharing Bangbae Branch" in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Korea Food for the Hungry

▲ Korea Food for the Hungry Relocates and Reopens "Happy Sharing Bangbae Branch"... New Start as a Store Supporting North Korean Defectors' Self-Reliance

Hope Friends Korea Food for the Hungry (President Choi Changnam) announced on the 11th that it held the opening ceremony for the relocation of the "Happy Sharing Bangbae Branch" to support stable job creation and self-reliance for North Korean defectors. The "Happy Sharing Bangbae Branch," which was previously operated within Saesoon Church in Bangbae-dong, has been relocated to a prime commercial area near Naebang Station, improving accessibility. As part of a project to help North Korean defectors settle, Korea Food for the Hungry, through its social enterprise "Happy Sharing," provided an establishment fund of 125 million won to launch the Bangbae Branch. Currently, a North Korean defector has been hired as an assistant manager and is in charge of on-site operations. The store's sales profits are used to support the economic and emotional self-reliance of North Korean defectors and to help vulnerable groups in Korea. Furthermore, the Bangbae Branch will operate as a "community hub-type store" that goes beyond a simple retail space to engage with the local community. Korea Food for the Hungry currently operates 13 "Happy Sharing" stores nationwide, and with the addition of the Bangbae Branch, there are now four stores dedicated to supporting North Korean defectors' self-reliance, including the Seoul National University Station Branch, Junghwa Station Branch, and Daerim Branch.

(Photo above) Yejin Hong, Welfare Project Officer, World Vision Seoul West Division (left and right, same name), (Photo below) Seunghwan Lee, Welfare Project Officer, World Vision Gwangju Jeonnam Division

▲ World Vision Ambassador Lee Junho's Fan Club "I Love Junho" Donates 350kg of Rice

World Vision (President Cho Myunghwan) ambassador, singer, and actor Lee Junho's fan club "I Love Junho" has donated 350 kilograms of rice to the "Love Lunchbox" project, which supports children in Korea with poor dietary conditions. This donation was made by delivering a rice wreath prepared by "I Love Junho" to celebrate the production presentation of the tvN drama "Taepung Company" held on the 1st, delivering the fans' warm hearts as love to children in need. In particular, this participation by "I Love Junho" demonstrates how the positive influence of ambassador Lee Junho is naturally leading to voluntary sharing among fans. The donated rice will be divided and delivered to the Seoul West Regional Headquarters (200kg) and the Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Headquarters (150kg), and will be provided as lunchboxes to children with poor dietary conditions in Korea through World Vision's "Love Lunchbox" project.

On the 10th, a donation ceremony following a bazaar was held at Yeeun Kindergarten located in Yongin City. Good Neighbors Gyeonggi Southern Regional Office

▲ Good Neighbors Gyeonggi Southern Regional Headquarters and Yeeun Kindergarten in Yongin Hold Donation Ceremony for Bazaar Proceeds

Good Neighbors Gyeonggi Southern Regional Headquarters (Director Jeon Jaegyu) announced on the 10th that it received a donation of 300,000 won from Yeeun Kindergarten in Yongin (Principal Kim Eunsook) to support children from low-income families both in Korea and abroad. Yeeun Kindergarten has been conducting various activities to naturally teach children the values of sharing and consideration, and held a bazaar to participate in Good Neighbors' campaign to help children in Korea and overseas. The proceeds from the bazaar, totaling 300,000 won, were donated with the participation of children, parents, and staff. Good Neighbors Gyeonggi Southern Regional Headquarters plans to use the donated funds to support children from low-income families both domestically and internationally.