Good News You Won’t See in the Korean Media
Some Yongsan soldiers are doing some great work helping out Amerasian children in Itaewon:
Park Kuk-wha felt good on Saturday, despite being tired from studying for a recent final exam at school.
The 15-year-old was upbeat because he got to see some old friends at an annual Christmas party given by Pearl S. Buck International Korea and U.S. soldiers from the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion.
(…)
Yi had reason to celebrate Saturday as well. Last year, his charity was struggling to provide monthly stipends to the families, who depend on a few extra dollars each month to pay the utility bill or the child’s school costs. Donations had dwindled to about $3,000 a month, which spread thin across the 150 or so children Yi was trying to help.
So Yi set out this time last year to renew his relationships with chaplains and soldiers with U.S. Forces Korea. Soldiers from the 524th have been helping for three years with rice drives and holiday parties, but Yi began soliciting extra help from church congregations and private donations.
The plan worked. The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea recently sponsored job training for eight mothers, who now have full-time jobs as hair stylists and masseuses. At random times during the year, soldiers or contractors with USFK came forward to donate money and clothes to the children. And on one Sunday during a church service on Yongsan Garrison, a special collection was held for the Pearl S. Buck children.
The good these soldiers and also contractors are doing for these children discarded by Korean society is really significant. The Amerasian children are shunned by Korean society which causes them to have limited ability to attend good universities and well paying jobs. This in turn often causes them to stay and find work in ville areas like Itaewon where they can fit in and find employment.
The positive reinforcement and financial aid will go a long ways to improving the lives for these children and hopefully giving them a better future.
