2013년 7월 30일 화요일

Seoul YWCA News in June, 2013

Gangnam Youth Center
2013 Seoul Expo Opening Ceremony, a surprising Saturday


Gangnam Youth Center and its members participated on June 15 in the Seoul Expo Opening Ceremony. The Gangnam Youth Center managed various booths such as ‘한글 (Korean) 살리미 (Salimi)’ guarding Korean language campaign, psychological tests by ‘프스케이커 (Peacemaker)’ which is a prevention of school violence campaign, and also ran a booth by donating club ‘소녀지몽’ (Sonyo gimon) that made cotton pads. There was also a musical club ‘드림하이’ (Dream High) that performed the musical Cats.



Youth Department
‘Changing the school’s space’: Our school is a 친친’(Chin Chin) Wi-Fi zone



The Youth Department ran a POSCO-YWCA ‘Our school is a Chin Chin Wi-Fi zone’ activity at Gongrung Middle School on May 30th (Thursday) and June 20th (Thursday). 40 Gongrung middle schoolers, 12 Seoul Women’s University students, and 20 POSCO staff participated and drew murals expressing dreams and careers in the hallways of the school and made a space for students to rest. Wooded tables were also placed outside of school. 

20 Year Anniversary of Nowon Women Resources Development Center

20 Steps that have been taken with women who challenge

Women who get married, have kids and suddenly want to get a job.
Women who suddenly have to take responsibility in sustaining the family after the householder is unemployed. Where would these women ask for help?
‘Women Resources Development Center’ helps women looking for jobs to gain confidence and achieve their goal. As the first women resources development center in Korea, Nowon Women Resources Development Center celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 21st (Friday).

Hoping to be a good friend
The celebration worship started with a psalm ‘My Lord God, the Great Grace’ and a couple words from Pastor Kim Yong Su. Naming his talk ‘At a Crossroads’, Pastor Kim asked the Nowon women resources development center to, like Moses, refuse to be the princess’ son but to live and go through hardship with the people. He asked the Nowon center to continue being a great friend and to lend a hand to women who need help.  Pastor Kim further gave his blessing to the Nowon women resources development center.
The special song the Nowon committee members sang ‘Prayer of Peace,’ was in hopes for the Nowon center to be sought as a peacemaking tool.

Taking root in the community
The 20 year celebration was followed by guest introductions, reports, greetings, an award ceremony and a celebration performance. The Nowon development center committee members gave educational equipment convection oven to the center, and made a resolve to take root in the community with ethical and efficient management.
Many people from the community had come to the 20th anniversary celebration acknowledging the importance of Nowon development center, once again showing how the Nowon women resources development center has taken root in the community.

Having celebrated its 20th birthday, Nowon center hopes to continue to be essential friends to support and assist confident women in the community.

Seoul YWCA News in May, 2013

Gangnam Youth Center
Union Club Physical Activities


On May 11th (Saturday), at Gangnam teenage training center, nine circle clubs met to exercise communication and unity skills. 97 club members from 청눈세보 (Chungnunsebo), (Han sal), G.E.T, BOOKAHOLIC, 소녀지몽 (So nyo gimon), 장애아동 봉사활동 (Community Service for children with disabilities), 피스메이커 (Peace maker), 디지털 카메라 봉사활동 (Digital camera community service) participated in sport stacking and couple dodge ball. Club unity and community awareness was enhanced through these activities.



Bongcheon Social Welfare Center
Father’s Day Appreciation Event












Father’s day was celebrated on May 8th (Wednesday) at Bongcheon community welfare center with Korea Yakult to express our appreciation to elders at the community welfare center. Staff and community service participants sang the father’s day song and together gave each elder carnations as appreciation.


World Fellowship Department
Thailand border refugee women fundraising bazaar













The World Fellowship Department opened an MCM fundraising bazaar from May 28th- May 29th sponsored by Sungjoo Foundation. Sungjoo Foundation has been sponsoring a campaign called ‘Peace in Asia’ since 2011, which deals with refugee women in the Thailand-Myanmar border. All of the proceedings from the bazaar will be used to fund the upcoming 7th ‘Peace in Asia’ company that will take place in July.


Sung Dong Youth Center
Children’s festival ‘Wagl Wagl













For Children’s day on May 5th, Sungdong youth culture house carried out the children’s festival ‘Wagl Wagl’ at Wangsimni square station with other institutions from Sundong-gu. Drawing my dream, making Dalgona cookies, making badges were some of the fourteen different family activities that were carried out. Other enjoyable activities that also took place were the family singing contest and youth club concerts. Wangsimni square had streets filled with activities that kids could experience.


Garak Women's Resources Development Center
Housewife environment committee ‘살리미’ (Salimi) Book club













At Garak community welfare center members of the housewife environment committee ‘살리미’ (Salimi) participated in a book club. Participants looked through books and found key words about the environment that helped them remember the importance of the environment. This activity also proved for members to be a meaningful time to re-adjust and re-think about the course and direction of their activities.


Yeongdeungpo Women's Resources Development Center
‘Coffee shop class’ for prospective entrepreneurs















The university for small traders and enterprisers opened a ‘coffee shop’ class on May 8th at Yeongdeungpo women resources development center for prospective entrepreneurs. The class consisted in teaching theories and training prospective interns about opening a coffee shop.

The 20-Year History of the Seoul YWCA Summer School for Korean Adoptees in Europe

순간과 기억 The Moments & the Memories


A compilation of articles The 20-Year History of the Seoul YWCA Summer School for Korean Adoptees in Europe was published to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Seoul YWCA Summer School for foreign adoptees.
           This compilation of articles looks back at the foreign adoptees summer school program that the World Fellowship Department developed from 1990 to 2006. Looking closely through memoirs the World Fellowship Committee members left behind and looking closely through the reviews of the participants, the article brings back dim recollections and memories. The compilation also contains an article reexamining the problem of adoption in Korea in various perspectives. There is also an English translation of these articles, which allows it to be more readable for the foreign adoptees who had participated.

           By looking back at the 20-year history of the Seoul YWCA Summer School for Korean Adoptees, we hope it allows one to think about the difficulties and sorrows foreign adoptees may undergo, and to contemplate over possible improvements in adoption policy.