In Korea, no one goes hungry anymore. The concept of poverty barely exists.
Since last year, I’ve been volunteering every Sunday at a group home, spending time with two kids. Through this, I’ve come to understand the reality of what’s considered the socially underprivileged in our society.
A group home is a residential facility that provides care and support for people who need a structured living environment. It is typically designed for children, individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, or those recovering from substance abuse. Group homes offer a more home-like setting than institutional facilities, with caregivers providing supervision, assistance with daily activities, and emotional support. (source: ChatGPT)
Both of the kids I spend time with are named Minwoo.
Older Minwoo‘ mother is Vietnamese, and his father was Korean. After his parents divorced, his father disappeared, and his mother was forcibly deported back to Vietnam. That’s how he became an orphan.
Younger Minwoo’s parents both had mental illnesses. His father committed suicide, and his mother is currently hospitalized, unable to take care of him. That’s why he ended up in a group home.
I had a chance to talk with the director of the group home, and I asked what Minwoo and the other kids needed the most. The answer surprised me.
When we think of poverty, we assume that people lack money, food, or basic necessities. But the director told me that for kids like Minwoo, there’s actually an abundance of social support—they receive food, clothing, education, and everything else from the government.
So, what do they lack the most? Experiences and role models.
That made me wonder:
What kinds of experiences can I give them? Can I be their role model?
That’s why the first initiative of Volunteers Korea will be educational volunteering.
Volunteers will tutor the kids once or twice a month and also serve as role models. Since these kids rarely get the chance to interact with foreigners, having international volunteers teach them English could be a valuable experience. It might even help them develop a more global perspective.