-The Seoul Diplomatic Corps. lends their helping hands for the education of disadvantaged children
As their annual event Diplomatic Corps. got together once again as a form of
their charity concert at JCC concert hall, Seoul to lender their helping hands to
disadvantaged peoples, for the education of disadvantaged children among others.
Including Diplomatic Choir which were comprised of ambassadors & their wives,
Philippines Amb. Raul S. Hernandez, Poland Amb. Krzysztof lgnacy Majka, New
Zealand Amb. Clare Patricia Fearnley, South Africa Amb. Nozuko Gloria Bam,
Spain Amb. Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa, Austria Amb. Elisabeth Bertagnoli, Malaysia Amb. Dato' Rohana
Ramli etc. showed up with their colleague envoys.
Annual Diplomatic charity concert 2016 scene |
The following is a SPEECH OF THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO, Holy See Amb. – DEC. 14,
2016: Charity Concert on behalf of all Diplomatic Corps. attending there. -Ed.
Your Excellency, Mr. CHO Hyun-dong, Ambassador for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Honorable
Deputy Ministers and esteemed officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Distinguished Guests,
I speak on behalf of my colleagues, the Diplomatic Heads of Mission accredited
to the Republic of Korea. We thank Your Excellency, Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong, for presiding at this charity concert, in representation of the Foreign Minister,
H.E. Mr. Yun Byung-se. We thank the Ministry of Foreign affairs for this praiseworthy initiative.
The word “concert” originally means an agreement, and in its more concrete
significance “a union of hearts and minds expressed in music”. Charity on the
other hand is the christian word for “love for others”. It is giving in spirit of
solidarity – of spiritual and material sharing with others.
On this occasion, we unite our minds and hearts in one voice in order to offer a
benefit to the programs of UNICEF for children. Childhood and adolescence are
crucial moments, the age of risk but also a time of opportunity. Young people
who learn to work together and solve common problems are developing skills that
will more than help build a better future for themselves. There is a saying that the
person who “rocks the cradle, rules the world” – because indeed the children and
youth of today are the future of tomorrow.
We therefore share with the Government and People of Korea all concerns in favor
of the development of the youth, especially for the education of disadvantaged
children. In a globalized world of communication today, a small wave can affect
an entire ocean – so too does a cry of a small child – asking for help and thanking
those who give a helping hand. In this Charity Concert, in our own way, we
offer a hand of support for all these children.
It is interesting to see how much music can do for the world. An english poet
wrote that “music has charms to soothe a human heart”. Music has the capacity
to heal, to console, and to unite peoples. It has to be one of the best forms of
diplomacy.
As we are approach the holy season of Christmas, we wish that the voices that
are sung today will further strengthen the unity and solidarity of all peoples,and
bring about a world of peace.
THANK YOU and A BLESSED CHRISTMAS.