AikWangwon

Every Wednesday the GFRA has the ladies morning tea so Sarah and I went along together again.

It was such a great day; there were two special guest speakers and lots of new women. We also had a lucky door prize and there were some gorgeous prizes to be won (see pic of me holding the pearl necklace prize – I didn’t win it though).

The first guest speaker was a lady from Coens (a South Korean company that specializes in finding accommodation etc for foreigners) and she spoke to us about all the public holidays in May. There are four in total, Children’s Day, Parent’s Day, Teachers Day and Buddha’s birthday.

Our second guest speaker really touched my heart in a profound way. I shed a few tears during her speech as she is such a remarkable person doing such remarkable things.

Her name is Mrs Woojung Lee and she is the director of AikWangwon, a school, home and orphanage for the mentally and physically disabled.

I have copied and pasted a description of AikWangwon from their facebook page below:

Aikwangwon is a school and home for the severely physically or mentally disabled; children and adults of all ages live and learn here in a very loving and nurturing environment. The school provides education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and job skills training including baking, sewing, weaving, ceramics, arts, gardening and farming. They often receive children with disabilities who have been abandoned by their parents. Some come to the center as young as 2 weeks old.

The grounds are set in an absolutely beautiful location, filled with greenery and overlooking the ocean. They grow much of their own food on the grounds, and what they don't grow, they buy locally and organic.

This place is an amazing example of compassion and devotion to the care of the most vulnerable, as well as an incredible testament to the strength of the human spirit, alive in all people. Children and adults who otherwise may not have lived, are thriving here.

Aikwangwon is funded entirely by the government, private donations, and income from the store where they sell items made by the residents. No payment is required from residents or their families.

I have also found a link of a video about AikWangwon:

http://vimeo.com/17445221

Mrs Woojung Lee also brought a selection of crafts and food items that were all made by the residents of AikWangwon, for us ladies to purchase with all proceeds going straight back to the centre.

Next week straight after our morning tea the GFRA has organised for us ladies to do a tour of AikWangwon. I’m really looking forward to it.

Off to bed.

Write soon xx