SEOUL YWCA NEWS in December, 2013

Community Service Center

Volunteers End-of-the-Year Party
On December 17^th (Tuesday) at the community service center, 80 volunteers held an end-of-the-year party reflecting on the year’s diverse community service activities. Different volunteer clubs were introduced, awards were given to the most outstanding volunteer, club performances and other activities were held during this day.

World Fellowship Department

Y-CSV International Volunteer Group Prior Training
The World Fellowship Department organized a prior training session for the 10^th International Volunteer group on December 13^th and 14^th (Saturday). Y-CSV International Volunteer Group is an international volunteer group that is sent to the UK to help people with disabilities, the elderly and the homeless and to be in charge of life support activities. This year, 12 members who were recruited as the 10^th International Volunteer Group learned about the characteristics of people with body and intellectual disabilities, learned about being an activity assistant, learned how to do first aid and the UK’s local information to prepare for their activities.

Garak Social Welfare Center

Thanking Volunteers and Supporters

On December 6^th (Friday) at Garak Social Welfare Center, a ‘Thank You Night’ was held together with 150 volunteers and supporters at a complex cultural space ‘healing’. The first half of the night consisted of an awards ceremony during which recognition was given to outstanding members. The second half consisted of a 70’s 80’s band performance, performances by employees and a lottery to conclude the night.

Gangnam Youth Center

School Violence Prevention Seminar

At Gangnam Youth Center’s School Violence Prevention Seminar 83 people participated in the 15^th ‘violence without sound’ seminar on “cyber bullying” and how to cope with it on December 31^st (Tuesday). It was a time to take a closer look at the emerging issue and features of cyber bullying. Taking roles as professionals, teachers, and students, participants tried to come up with various measures to solve the problem.

Women Development Department

Christmas Celebration Service, End-of-the-Year Awards
The Women Development Department on December 14^th (Saturday) held a Christmas celebration service and an awards ceremony at Youngnak Church Bedani Hall with 650 members. Each council and the women development department presented 8 scholarships to member’s children. A cappella MTM performances, and lotteries were organized to conclude the celebration.

Nowon Women's Resources Development Center

‘Neulgippeun’ cooperative association meeting of promoters

At Nowon Women's Resources Development Center on December 13^th (Friday), ‘Neulgippeun’ cooperative association meeting of promoters was held. ‘Neulgippeun’ cooperative association is co-op that helps members of the society to lead a happy life by supporting and helping self-healing and self-development.

Bongcheon Social Welfare Center

Our Family Happy Story

On December 14^th (Saturday) at Bongcheon Social Welfare Center, together with 47 families and low-income infant family support group ‘Our Family Happy Story’ organized an activity on the theme of “Happy Christmas with Family”. The party had bubble shows and balloon mime, and also had album-making activities to reflect on the year.

Yeongdeungpo Women's Resources Development Center

Working Mom Festival

-Employment Success Story Award

At Yeungdeungpo Women's Resources Development Center, 100 employed women held the 5^th Working Mom Festival on December 6^th (Friday). A workshop on ‘How to live as a happy working mom’ was organized and 13 successfully employed women were awarded. A collection on employment success stories was also published.

Let Us Pull Out All Electrical Appliance Plugs That Are Not In Use

Household Energy Consumption Clinic Service ‘Building an Energy Dream Apartment’

Seoul YWCA has organized a household energy consumption clinic service project to spread energy conservation. Having measured Mapo-gu’s energy consumption level of 840 households between May to October 2013, Seoul YWCA has succeeded in conserving energy of 9.4% over the last year. On December 23^rd (Monday) last year, a briefing session was held to announce and give awards to the most outstanding household.

Blocking standby power? Easily done with multiple-tab adaptor!

Most outstanding household Lee Min Jin (Seogang GS Apartment)

I always pull out plugs that are not being used. There are a lot of people who leave TV plugs, vacuum cleaners, and other electrical appliances plugged into the outlet. But these appliances are the ones that take up most of the standby power. This is why I have gotten into a habit of pulling out any plugs that are not being used or pulling it out before I go to bed. Recently, using the multiple-tap adaptor, I have easily turned off many appliances through the adaptor’s ON/OFF button. There are lots of ways to easily conserve energy.

Seoul YWCA Celebrated the 91st Anniversary of Its Founding

A Commemoration Service ∙ Director Committee Christmas Gathering

Established in 1922, Seoul YWCA celebrated its 91st anniversary of its founding on December 9^th (Sunday) holding a commemoration service and a director committee Christmas gathering.

YWCA’s words of worship and thanks to God for having been with Seoul YWCA throughout these 91 years was given by pastor Jeong Seok Hwan, whose words were based on his subject of ‘Please Look After Mom’. Pastor Jeong Seok Hwan spoke of a passage from the Corinthians chapter 3 verses 8-11, encouraging Seoul Y to restore its first love from when it was founded 91 years ago, and reinsured that the continuing history of Seoul Y will be one that is prosperous and fortunate as it was throughout these past 91 years. Pastor Jeong Seok Hwan further blessed and encouraged Seoul Y, which is headed towards its 100 years of founding, to strive to become a gospel community that pushes people to live and to become a community that spreads the gospels of life and peace. The offerings of this day were given to the Myanmar’s children and women education community service taking place on January 2014.

After the commemoration service, recognitions were given to directors and members who have worked diligently during the year 2013, and awards were given to departments that strove to increase the number of recruits. First, introducing honorary members and former directors, and later having everyone standing to say YWCA’s goals ended the first half of the ceremony.

During the second half of the ceremony pastor Ha Jeong Wan organized ‘Greeting Christmas through film’. Watching the movie and how the birth of Jesus gave hope for those who are poor and of low-birth, Seoul Y with a history of 91 years was reminded of the need to help the poor.

We give our most sincere gratitude to God who has been with Seoul Y for these past 91 years, and to all members who have given us their love and support.