Recently in Help for the needy Category

"91 children are being sponsored in January 2008. That is six more than last year. This number is stable over the past years: some sponsors start, some drop out. The monthly income is about 1300 euro. Additionally there are quite a few sponsors that pay yearly. Hopefully we will be able to keep the income from sponsors at the same level in 2008. The income from the one-time donations is, considering the incidental nature, hard to predict. Nevertheless, we have seen a steady increase, mostly because new sources of income were found. We cannot predict if this will happen again the coming year."

Above is an excerpt from 2007 financial report of ICCF-Holland showing expectations for year 2008. I added a penny over the last two years (or more) in support of the projects in Uganda and their sustainability. The report marked slight revenue increase in year 2007 from VIM sponsoring and me. :) I could confirm that the project aimed at very low costs and had done it.

Born in 1940s, suffered from Korean War in her childhood, sacrificed to her family so far, and she now stands at twilight of her life. What she told me last night still rings in my ears. She had a plan to serve as a volunteer wherever a hand is needed. The start of volunteering would be irregular basis. She is dexterous in dress making. Sewing machine handling was one of skill sets that she had for livelihood. Tomorrow, she will start for KKottongnae to help the needy with what she can do for one day; sewing or whatever. She is my Mother! I will welcome her on her return tomorrow.

Selam!

Recollecting what I had done as a Korea Overseas Volunteer (KOV) in Ethiopia, I still wonder what the true volunteerism is. I redefined my volunteerism into "technical cooperation" in the article from KOV category of this blog because spiritual understanding in grass root level was missing. Specifically speaking, I was always busy in preparation of network with cutting edge technology, training materials, reports to the Ministry and KOICA regional office, and any other tangible matters only. At the end of stay in Ethiopia, only thing that I could do was just to keep unforgettable memory with Ethiopian around my residence. If I revisit Ethiopia as a volunteer, I will be able to behave in different way by devoting myself to understanding existing Ethiopian cultures as they are now. However, will my revisit happen? Of course, not! Whenever I read articles from "One Love Theater/Blog", I can imagine what and how the volunteers there are doing in Awassa with the spirits that I should have shared with colleagues from the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia. Look up article from this link!

Cutting edge technology, blog system, now assists Awassa Children's Project! Called One Love Theater Blog shows what are going on in Awassa Youth Campus (AYC). I here put trackback on the first article of that blog to spread HIV/AIDS awareness with the help of blogging mechanism.

I never experienced soliciting from Awassa Children's Project and ICCF-Holland since my donation initiation. They, I think, have their own way efficiently and/or effectively to operate their project sites and manage funds donated. Nobody can find ads from their web pages, for example, saying "Please, increase the amount of subscription for this year!" Web pages are, as they were before, show only critical information to let donation subscribers fully understood on their projects. I trust their way though I don't know what the way is and how they take measure to implement "the way." For the time being, I will keep the current rate of donation from my salary. I am fed up with soliciting email from other organizations for which I donate considerable amount. :(

Right now, I loaded video files downloaded from ICCF Holland onto Windows Media Player. Well done! It took nearly half a day to completely get them from this page. The video, I hope, will show many more things than web pages there.

Copyright term says,

"The DVD and video files are Copyright 2006, stichting ICCF Holland. You are encouraged to make copies and give them to others. The only condition is that this is done for the good of the Kibaale Childrens Centre."

Accordingly, if you want DVD or electronic copy of the movie from me, please don't hesitate to contact me. Upon your request, I will upload those files somewhere we can access together or dispatch DVD duplicate with your attention if you are staying in Korea. Of course, FREE OF CHARGE!

Since the end of 2001, returning back to Korea from Ethiopia, no further information was available regarding the fight over what they faced. It is attributed, of course, to my indifference. Today, I could locate one of NGO operation sites in Ethiopia, called Awassa Children's Project.

Here below, access URL is available.

[Awassa Children's Project]

[Video Clip (10 min.)]

Movement by performance, another type of endeavor, we can experience indirectly from there.

VIM help system made me aware of ICCF-Holland. The first visit to its web page led me to sign in regular subscription schedule. Small but BIG organization is helping needy children in Uganda with tangible and sustainable ways, I am sure.