• Support for wildfire victims and underprivileged, multicultural, and elderly households
• Aid for Turkiye and Syria Earthquake Victims, Ukraine War Victims, and Vulnerable Groups in 20 Countries

  There are so many things we can do while walking; picking up trash, learning history, and donating. What if you can practice love for your family, neighbors, the environment, and even all humanity while walking with your loved ones? On April 23, people of different nationalities, languages, and cultures, and of all ages and occupations took steps forward with one mind. The event of unity that transcends national borders and generations is the 24th New Life Family Walkathon hosted by the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation (Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, hereinafter referred to the “WeLoveU”). As an annual charity event that started in Namsan, Seoul, in 2002, the walkathon was reopened after three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving a great welcome.
  The WeLoveU is an NGO associated with the UN DGC. It is a global welfare organization with more than 155,000 members from 65 countries under the slogan, “Mother’s Love to the Whole World.” With the goal of achieving sustainable peace and a world where everyone is respected, the WeLoveU strives to promote the well-being of the socially underprivileged such as children, women, the elderly, the disabled, disaster victims, and refugees, and also communication and harmony among people around the world.

Over 7,000 People Participated with Joy and Excitement

  On a day when the spring sun was warm, a bright yellow wave swayed in the Seoul World Cup Park. More than 7,000 people participated in a family walkathon, wearing yellow T-shirts and smiling broadly. The popular park for family outings in spring was again filled with cheers of love for family, neighbors, environment, and humanity. People from all walks of life participated in the wave of compassion, including diplomats and their families from nine countries-Ambassadors of El Salvador, Laos, and Belarus, the Acting Ambassador of Angola, the Philippine Consul General, Iraqi First Secretary, Turkiye Second Secretary, Lee Bae-geun the President of Korea Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Actor Kim Seong-hwan.
  Through this walkathon, the WeLoveU donated a total of 700 million KRW (appr. 547,000 USD) to help people in 24 countries suffering from disasters, wars, diseases, and economic hardships. The WeLoveU donated 100 million KRW (appr. 78,000 USD) for wildfire victims, and delivered medical expenses and living expenses to 141 underprivileged families and multicultural families in Korea. In addition to this, 30 million KRW (appr. 24,000 USD) was donated to the Senior Healthcare Sharing Foundation to help the elderly in need for surgery. In order to help Turkiye and Syria earthquake victims, the WeLoveU donated 100 million KRW (appr. 78,000 USD) along with 3,870 boxes of relief supplies prepared in early April. The WeLoveU also provided aid for Ukrainian war victims and the vulnerable groups in 20 countries, including Mexico, El Salvador, Laos, Angola, Iraq, and Mozambique.
  The event consisted of two parts: celebration ceremony and walkathon. A variety of side events were also prepared. Following the congratulatory performance of the New Life Choir who cheered for the harmony of the global village with cute songs and dance moves, a celebration ceremony was held. Announcer Kim Byeong-chan, who presided the event, encouraged the participants, saying, “The yellow wave you’ve made will become energy to encourage global villagers.” The WeLoveU Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, who hosted the walkathon, expressed her gratitude to all those who came despite their busy schedules. She said in her opening speech, “I hope that today’s walkathon will give hope and courage to global villagers along with the message that they are not alone but together with us.” She also suggested that we show continuous care and support for a better future. She added that she would like to deliver another important message, saying, “If we are together, we can achieve many things. If we help each other with interest and encouragement, the global village will be a world of peace and happiness.” For this, she emphasized unity and harmony transcending national borders.

One Mind Transcending Language and Culture with Love for Humanity

  People from all walks of life, who attended the walkathon, greatly sympathized with the message of Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, who regarded all mankind as one family and set an example of sharing and volunteering with the mind of a mother. At the congratulatory address, the Ambassador of Laos to Korea, H.E. Songkane Luangmuninthone said that he was impressed by the leadership of Chairwoman Zahng, and supported the WeLoveU activities that are carried out with a mother’s love. “The WeLoveU has a great advantage of quickly providing customized support for local communities around the world,” he said, predicting that such a global network would have a good impact on Laos and other countries. “I want to be with the WeLoveU who volunteers in various ways for aid, education, and a better future. I hope that solidarity and love for humanity will continue, so that a bright future will be opened for the global village.”
  The Ambassador of El Salvador to Korea H.E. Jaime Jose Lopez Badia praised the WeLoveU’s constant efforts and dedication to the hopeful future through his congratulatory address. Also he called the walkathon “a welfare activity for a better future with diverse people from different cultures. Nowadays more than ever, values like equality, respect, and understanding, along with comprehensive cooperation, are needed. We believe the WeLoveU’s projects are a big help for our communities. I hope that today’s walkathon will serve as a catalyst for greater collaboration.”
  The First Secretary of the Iraqi Embassy in Korea Mr. Jassim Mohammed Lafta Al Janabi, said with admiration, “WeLoveU members are very emotional and joyful. They share love for humanity with their neighbors in need. The WeLoveU is spreading humanitarian cooperation to people around the world.” He also expressed his wish, “Currently, Iraq is suffering from a severe drought due to an abnormal climate and water shortage. I want to learn from the WeLoveU the experience and the know-how of installing water pumps.”
  Diplomats from Gabon and Angola, too, had a good time with their families. The Ambassador of Belarus to Korea H.E. Andrew Chernetsky, who came with his wife and son, said with expectation, “As a community is made up of families, a happy family leads to a happy community. If all families participate in this kind of event, a good community will be formed.”
  As a token of cooperation, diplomats signed up to support the activities of the WeLoveU that realizes love for humanity with a mother’s love, leading voluntary participation of people around the world. “I was surprised to hear that the WeLoveU held a walkathon in the Philippines, too,” said the Philippine Consul General Romulo Victor Israel. He urged people to participate in the WeLoveU’s activities, saying, “All the activities of the WeLoveU touch people’s hearts.”

Practicing Love for Family, Neighbors, and the Environment at the Same Time

  Walking along the pathway, the participants couldn’t hide their joy, saying, “I came out feeling like going on a picnic on a holiday morning.” Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah began the walkathon with the announcement, “Start!” All participants departed the Peace Square according to the powerful performance of the marching band, and cheerfully walked 1.3 km (0.8 mi) section of Peace Park and came back to the starting point. Parents and children, husband and wife, and neighbors walked together, exchanging high-fives and making hand hearts.
  Park Cheol (from Gwangjin-gu, Seoul) who participated with his wife and elementary school student daughter said, “I’ve participated in this walkathon for the second time. This is precious time to volunteer with my family. First of all, my child have had a good experience.” He added that he had donated clothes for the Turkiye earthquake victims, saying, “I’m happy to help Turkiye, our brother country. Through today’s walkathon, I want to remind my child that we live together, not alone, and that we have to help each other because we are a family living together in a global village. I hope today’s experience will give our children a broader view and a warm heart that helps others.” Jeong Yeong-suk (essayist) and her husband Im Ki-wan (poet) said, “This is an opportunity for us to care about people in need. I wish this event to be held over 100th time to make this world beautiful.”
  At two points on the pathway, university students and young adult worker members showed performances to deliver the message of environmental protection practice, wearing sea creature (killer whale) and tree costumes. “Imagine the world without whales. . . . What will happen tomorrow if we don’t recycle?” “What should we do to protect the earth? Let us not use disposable items, but plant flowers and trees. Let’s make a clean and green earth together.” Young adults’ cheerful songs and movements encouraged the participants to protect the environment.
  Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, Belarusian ambassador’s family, and participants from all walks of life took part in the performance such as reducing disposables, separating and discharging recyclables, and planting trees to protect sea creatures and lower the global temperature. Young adult and student members performed environmental campaigns, holding up the environmental protection signs they themselves made from recycled materials with phrases such as “Earth, don’t change. We will change” and “One Step, Two Steps, We Can Do.”
  That day, the WeLoveU also conducted the “Clean Action Campaign,” the environmental protection campaign in daily life, to encourage citizens to participate in the carbon neutrality by 2050 and environmental welfare activities. The participants positively put into practice “No Waste,” “Plastic Free,” and “Carbon Zero” by not throwing away trash, refraining from using disposable items, and using public transportation. Song Ji-won (23) said, “Paper cups and wooden chopsticks are convenient because they can be easily used and thrown away immediately, but if I used a lunch box and a tumbler for lunch. If I use a paper cup or wooden chopsticks, it may be convenient. But if I use a cutlery container and side dish container, I can take part in saving the earth. From now on, I will practice environmental protection measures one by one.”

‘Walk to the World,’ Experiencing the Culture of Many Countries at Once

  Participants were also able to share love for global neighbors through side events arranged by the WeLoveU. Face painting and photo taking, which were managed by talent donation of university students and young adult workers, gave unforgettable memories to the participants. At the panel exhibition that introduces the WeLoveU’s activities for responding to climate change, guides explained in English and Spanish for foreign participants.
  Particularly, a large number of people flocked to the booth “Walk to the World.” It was a cultural experience corner where you could build understanding and intimacy with people around the world by experiencing the daily life of each country where the WeLoveU spread a mother’s love. At the booths of Laos and Ecuador, Ukraine, Angola, Honduras, and El Salvador, which were prepared together with the embassies, participants experienced the culture, characters, and food of each country. Pavina Ouansysomphou, the representative of Lao international students, explained, “In our country, we present a Dok Champa, a national flower, as a welcome sign to our important guests.” She then attached a brooch in the shape of a Dok Champa to Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and said, “Hanging this flower means ‘I’m lucky to meet you.’ ” She expressed how she felt, saying, “I’m so happy to attend this walkathon and help those who have an unexpected accident. The purpose of this walkathon is solidarity and cooperation to help not only Korean people, but also the world citizens, and I could see the good influence that people brought.” In Laos, the WeLoveU carried out various activities such as installing water pumps in the water shortage areas, supporting the COVID-19 prevention, and providing free meals at the time of dam collapse and flood in Sanamxay in 2018. Ambassador H.E. Songkane Luangmuninthone said, “With the support of the WeLoveU, Laos people were able to overcome the disasters,” and he showed a traditional dance together with embassy officials and international students with a heart of gratitude, which moved the hearts of people who were attending the walkathon.

‘Love for Humanity’ Continues with the Heart of a Mother

  The New Life Family Walkathon is an event to care for the world with the love of a mother. It has been held every spring and helped many people who were suffering from disasters, diseases, and economic hardships, and gave them hope and courage. Foreign ambassadors to Korea, diplomats, and people from all walks of life participated in the walkathon, and it was held in the U.S., Peru, and the Philippines in 2019. Up to the 24th walkathon, 239,000 people walked the distance of about 569,090 km, which is equivalent to circling around the Earth more than 14 times. Thus, the WeLoveU provided living expenses and medical expenses to multicultural families and underprivileged households, and supported refugees, disaster victims, residents of water-poor countries, and socially vulnerable groups. Since 2019, the WeLoveU donated to help the wildfire victims in Gangwon-do Province, Korea, supported medical expenses for children with cancer in Fiji, and helped restore the damage done by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique.
  What color would the WeLoveU’s activities be? The participants of the walkathon said as follows: Heo A-yeong (29) and Lee Gil-yeong (34) looked around the yellow T-shirts worn by the participants, and said, “It looks like yellow symbolizing hope. We hope all those who’re going through hardships can cheer up.” Park Chan-ju (22, University of Suwon), who volunteered to guide the face painting answered, “The color of each member is different, but when we gather in one place, we can help our neighbors with our various colors.” Thinking of a mother’s love, Oh Young-chae, a young adult worker (22, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi), said with a bright smile, “The WeLoveU members from all over the world work in unity for the happiness of all mankind. That’s why I want to say that the color of the WeLoveU is warm pink like the heart of the WeLoveU’s logo.”
  In a warm spring that visited us after a long winter of the pandemic, the WeLoveU said, “Holding the hands of neighbors in the global village, we will take steps forward for our neighbors, and we will give courage and hope to all people with a mother’s love.” The humanitarian efforts by those who dream for a world where everyone is equally respected, will become more active over time.