Warm Solidarity for Multicultural Youth and Foreign Workers in Pocheon for Yeongnam Wildfire Victims

Multicultural youth and foreign workers at a support center in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, have come together to make a meaningful donation for the victims of the wildfire in the Yeongnam region.

Despite their own financial difficulties, they practiced warm solidarity and did not ignore the pain of the community.

Eleven multicultural youth and college students, along with fifteen foreign workers, affiliated with the 'Harang Center' (led by Pastor Park Seung-ho) operated by the Social Mission Department of Seoul Onnuri Church, undertook fundraising activities for about two weeks. This fundraising effort, which started on the 30th of last month, raised a total of approximately 2.6 million won, which was recently donated through the Eland Welfare Foundation.

Youth from Disadvantaged Families and Foreign Nationals Unite Through Voluntary Donations

This donation was initiated by a suggestion from a college student who had been attending the Harang Center for several years. He shared photos of the wildfire damage in a KakaoTalk group chat, stating, "Now it's our turn to help," which inspired other students to join in with a united heart.

Most of the youth, coming from nine countries including China, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, and Bangladesh, are from disadvantaged families or facing difficult living conditions, yet they willingly came together to contribute.

Pastor Park Seung-ho from the Harang Center expressed, "The children's actions cannot be summed up in mere words of ‘thank you,’" adding, "There were even kids who walked to the center to save on transportation fees and friends who donated money they saved by skipping lunch."

"The Joy of Being Able to Help Others After Always Receiving Help"

He continued, "For the youth and foreign workers who have always received help, the experience of being able to help someone with their own hands will become an unforgettable memory for them."

The Harang Center holds worship services every Sunday with about 30 multicultural youth and conducts Korean language classes for foreign workers during weekdays. They also provide practical support, such as accompanying Muslim students for visa tasks at the immigration office or connecting them with emergency funds.

This center continues its multicultural mission in collaboration with the Eland Welfare Foundation and local universities. Pastor Park emphasized, "This work cannot be done by the strength of one person alone. Only by walking together can we find the solution."

Image source: Photo = Harang Center, News1