Songs of Hope and Love Resounding at Yearend
New Life Concert by Intl. WeLoveU Foundation to Help Children with Heart Disease or Rare & Intractable Disease and Families Marginalized from Welfare Service
In December when we look back over the year 2015 and welcome the New Year, a non-governmental charity organization held a concert on a large scale, where ambassadors from many countries attended. It was the 16th New Life Concert hosted by the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation. Many diplomats from Philippines, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Gabon, Egypt, Nigeria, Czech Republic, Cambodia, etc. came with their families and acquaintances. The guests who came to the concert despite their busy schedules were not only the diplomats. The concert hall became a place of sharing, where 15,000 people―influential figures from academic, political, financial, cultural & artistic, athletic, educational circles, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation members, and citizens—had a meaningful time together.
Sharing Warmth of a Mother’s Love
On December 13, Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul welcomed guests. The yellow big placard seemed to emit the warmth of love. For the event, people waited in line to enter the stadium. The long line that seemed endless showed how big the concert’s scale was and how much people had interest in it.
The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation that held this concert is a global charity organization led by Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, who has been taking care of people in need for about forty years. Every yearend, she holds the New Life Concert to console people suffering from disaster, disease, and poverty to encourage them with songs of new hope. This year, it is the 16th concert; Ministry of Health and Welfare, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Sejong General Hospital in Bucheon, and Korean Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect sponsored the event.
This concert was to help children with heart disease or rare and intractable disease and households marginalized from government’s welfare service, and to cheer the families of firefighters who make every effort day and night for citizens’ safety. The Foundation explained the purpose of the event: “What is needed most to our neighbors in difficulties is love and care that can make them feel like they are of a family. We want to share love with our neighbors, having the warmth of a mother, so that they can get strength and courage.”
Zahng Gil-jah, Chairwoman of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation, thanked all the attendees for coming despite their busy schedules. She expressed her wish, “The songs we’ve sung all together so far have cheered our exhausted neighbors and planted new hope in their hearts, and have performed the miracles of raising them up. I wish to see such miracles again through today’s concert,” looking back over the past sixteen years of sharing love and hope. Chairwoman Zahng added, “We love you. We always support you. Please get courage and hope for life, and cheer up!” Her sincere encouragement brought great strength to the audience.
Lee Sun-jae, Korean top actor who attends the New Life Concert every year, delivered his message of thanks to the Foundation members for their constant support for our unfortunate neighbors. He complimented and encouraged the members, “There have been many difficulties in and out of Korea this year. But the WeLoveU members brought courage and hope to every place with priceless love and volunteer service. You truly did great jobs.”
The event progressed with two parts: the donation ceremony and the concert. At the donation ceremony, Chairwoman Zahng presented donation certificates to beneficiaries such as one-parent families, senior citizens living alone, and multicultural families, and consoled them with a mother’s heart. At her soothing words from her warm heart, “Thank you for coming. Please cheer up,” the beneficiaries were moved to tears. Through this concert, the Foundation gave living expenses and medical expenses to a total of 91 underprivileged households including children with heart disease or rare and intractable disease, one-parent families, senior citizens living alone, child/adolescent-headed households, and the families of firefighters who do the noble work of saving lives. This gave them much courage and strength.
Talent Donators and Audience in One Mind
As the second part of the event started, the New Life Children’s Choir brought smiles to the audience through their cute performances and a medley of children’s songs. Camera flashes went off here and there and the audience exclaimed continuously. After that, great singers, musical actor and actress sang energetically.
Powerful singer Jeong Su-ra, Yun Tae-gyu, Lee Seung-hun, Kim Jong-hwan and his daughter Lia Kim, young singer Ben, and Kim Jae-hun sang to share love, donating their talents. In particular, it was not the first time for the singers such as Jeong Su-ra, Ben, Yun Tae-gyu, Lee Seung-hun, and Kim Jae-hun to stand on this stage. There is a reason that the celebrities who become busier at yearend arrange time for this concert. Ben said how rewarding talent donation is: “Though there are many concerts as it’s around yearend, I’m really happy and thankful to share love with someone else through my voice. So I’ve come here, putting all else aside.” Lee Seung-hun who came to this concert thirteen times moved the audience by saying, “The power that leads me to this concert every year is love that binds us as one.”
Kim Jong-hwan, who had received the Good Artist Award in recognition of his good deeds for twenty years, sang a family-love-themed song with his daughter Lia Kim and said, “People here look like angels. I was much moved by your love. Since many people support our neighbors this much, I wish all of them to be healthy and encouraged.”
Yun Tae-gyu in a suit rejoiced. He said, “It’s been ten years since I attended the New Life Concert for the first time. Today, I feel like I’m awarded,” and inspired the audience, saying, “You who share love are heroes.” The concert came to a climactic finale with Jeong Su-ra’s performance. She said, being full of emotions, “I give thanks and honor to the WeLoveU Foundation members who always share much love materially and spiritually. I’m very thankful to spend this yearend meaningfully by donating my talent of singing.” She also expressed her expectation, “I will work harder as I’ve received much love and passionate energy from you. I want to be with you in your future concerts.”
Favorable Responses from Diplomats and Eminent Persons from Various Circles
All the audience, including eminent persons from various circles, became one with the singers in neighborly love. They were moved and pleased throughout the concert. The ambassadors of the Philippines, Tunisia, and Bangladesh highly praised the purpose of the concert and the other activities of the WeLoveU Foundation through their congratulatory addresses. Philippine Ambassador to Korea H.E. Raul S. Hernandez paid his tribute of praise to the Foundation: “The WeLoveU Foundation willingly took action to help the Philippines when we were in difficult times because of the super typhoon Haiyan. Thank you very much. The Foundation gives a needed helping hand not only to people in Korean but also in other countries, which strengthens their international relationship.” Through the 14th concert, the Foundation collected 100 thousand USD and helped the typhoon victims in Tanauan, Philippines, construct classrooms for primary school and secondary school in 2013, so that the students could study again, cherishing hopes and dreams for the future.
Tunisian Ambassador to Korea H.E. Mohamed Ali Nafti said it was always a pleasure for him to attend this “beautiful, social and cultural event,” and emphasized that the “activities of the Foundation is very meaningful and valuable because it puts neighborly love and humanity into practice when the whole world is faced with many difficulties such as terrorism.” Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea H.E. Md. Zulfiqur Rahman received warm applause from the audience by preparing his message in English and Korean as well. He expressed his gratitude: “I thank the WeLoveU Foundation for its continued efforts to create a better world through various activities that it has been conducting worldwide since its emergence. I can already say that this concert is a success and will truly contribute to the hope for new life.”
Bulgarian Deputy Head of Mission in Seoul Panko Panov, who came together with his family, explained the meaning of the concert: “Here, many countries are sharing in the Foundation’ noble and valuable event to help our underprivileged neighbors. This means we are supporting their sublime activities and appreciating their efforts.” Nigerian Ambassador to Korea H.E. CDA Sheidu Omeize Momoh said, “I attended the concert in 2014, and this is my second time. Truly, it is a well prepared event. I ask the Foundation to continue this good event for happiness of the world.”
Not only these ambassadors, but also many diplomats from Cambodia, Jordan, Senegal, Czech Republic, Colombia, and more countries, attended the concert. Some sports figures come to this concert every year. President of Korean Association of National Sports Team Members Chang Yoon-chang expressed his hope: “We, sportsmen, too, do many good volunteer services, but I learn many things whenever I attend the concert held by the WeLoveU Foundation. Seeing them, we’d like to do good deeds all the more.” Former Korean National Team Track and Field Athlete Lim Chun-ae was delighted, saying, “The more time passes by, the more people join this concert. It feels so good. Although we want to volunteer for others, it is not easy to do in actuality. So it’s very nice to do something good for our neighbors through this concert.”
Beautiful Cycle of Love: Give Love That You Received Today
Love has the power to make both givers and recipients happy. The beneficiaries could not hide their joy, saying that they could feel love as warm as a mother’s embrace. Wang Li-li (35) and her Korean husband, who came with their six-year-old daughter as a multicultural family, expressed their thanks, saying, “It’s been three months since our daughter came to Korea, but she caught a cold and it developed to pneumonia. In this difficult situation, we’ve received love and help unexpectedly. We’re so happy and thankful. We, too, would like to join this kind of good activities.”
Noh Gyeong-hyeon (43) from Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, rejoiced, saying, “A mother comforts her children when their hearts are wounded. Today, I felt the love of a mother and my heart seems to be healed.” She added that she wanted her children to become a help to others after they grew up.
Firefighters, who usually help others, were moved, too, by the cheers of many people. Fireman Lee Seong-sik (42) humbled himself, saying, “Our job is to help others, so now I’m a little bit confused if it’s okay to receive this much love.” Ambulance Worker Cho Gwang-cheol (23) spoke his resolution: “From now on, I too will participate in volunteer service.”
The audience who came with their families, friends, and acquaintances, was deeply moved as well. Song Ju-yeon (27) who came with her co-workers gave a cheering message to the beneficiaries: “I didn’t know there are this many people who share a mother’s love. Please cheer up because we are with you.” Byeon Jin-su (46) who has a high school student child said, “This tough world needs a mother’s love. I’m happy to share warmth with others through this event.” Yvette Mendoza (22), an American student studying in Korea, expressed her feelings: “It’s been just five months since I came to Korea. I’m very happy to come to this special event and see many people sharing love in one mind.”
One of the characteristics of the New Life Concert is Circulation of Love. The joy of those who share love with others becomes double, and those who receive love come to participate in sharing love later for someone else with greater thanks. Year after year, love is delivered to more people. So far, over 130 thousand people have participated in sharing love through this concert.
The sincerity of the WeLoveU Foundation on the basis of Mother’s Love was delivered to beneficiaries. Since 2000 when the New Life Concert started to help children with heart disease, now children with heart disease or rare and intractable disease in and out of Korea are have been getting back their health both physically and mentally, being supported in medical expenses. Apart from this, countless global neighbors who need a helping hand such as child/adolescent-headed households, children of low-income households, senior citizens living alone, injured foreign workers, multicultural families, climate refugees, countries with water shortage, and disaster victims have regained courage and new hope thanks to the WeLoveU Foundation’s support for their living and installing water pumps, water-cleaning facilities, and educational facilities.
The seeds of love that the Foundation had sown wholeheartedly so far grew and now bring forth beautiful fruits constantly. As years go by, more celebrities participate in donating their talents. Many singers such as Insooni, Jeong Su-ra, Jeon Yeong-rok, Yu Yeol, Kim Jo-han, Noh Sa-yeon, Lee Mu-song, Sun Flower, Yun Tae-gyu, Lee Seung-hun, and So Chan-hui have shown their passionate and beautiful talents on the stage. Movie actors and film directors, too, have come to encourage the WeLoveU Foundation members and the beneficiaries.
Many Countries Trust in the Foundation for Its Sincerity Towards Global People
People from all walks of life, including diplomats from various countries, participate in the events held by the Foundation with great concern. It’s because they trust the Foundation as it has taken good care of people whose cultures and languages are all different, as well as Koreans, like a family.
Along with the New Life Concert, the Foundation holds the New Life Family Walkathon every year in spring to give new life and hope to people who are troubled with all sorts of diseases or poverty. More than 180,000 people’s participation so far has made possible the installation of water pumps in 26 water-stressed countries in Asia and Africa such as Ghana, Kenya, Congo, Rep. of South Africa, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as donation of 20 water tanks to Tuvalu, an island nation in the South Pacific, affected by climate change. In addition, the Foundation delivers love of a mother through various volunteer services such as worldwide blood drives and environmental cleanups, coal briquette delivery, multicultural family support, disaster relief efforts, and character build-up for the youth.
In November, around 300 people consisting of foreign residents in Korea, entertainers, professors, and the Foundation members made kimchi in Bundang, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. With the mind of a mother who makes kimchi for her family’s winter, they made about 8,000kg (17,640lbs) of kimchi with 3,000 cabbages for 800 households including senior citizens living alone, one-parent families, child/adolescent-headed families, and low-income families in Seoul City and Gyeonggi Province.
The Foundation sets an example as its members throw themselves into overcoming national crises with utmost sincerity. When the Sewol ferry sank in April 2014, the members in Gwangju City and Jeonnam Province provided free meals 24 hours a day for about 20 days to console those who lost their loved ones. “They prepare delicious food sincerely.” As the Foundation free-meal camp became known through word of mouth, not only the bereaved families but also government officials, soldiers, police officers, volunteers, and journalists came and ate healthy foods. At that time, the Foundation made more than 12,000 servings. The Foundation members went to everywhere wherever a mother’s love was needed; they provided free meals at the Daegu subway tragedy site, made oil spill disaster recovery in Taean with donations, comforted the victims of shelling in Yeongpyeongdo Island with donations, volunteered at Sampung Department Store collapse site, and carried out flood, typhoon, and snow damage restoration, and more.
Their help goes beyond Korea. They helped the super typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines in 2013. In April this year, the local members of the Foundation made relief efforts with their bare hands in Nepal that was hit by a deadly earthquake. They planted hope in the hearts of earthquake victims by donating food and daily necessities such as thousands of tents, bottled water, rice, and instant noodles, which were worth about 100,000 USD. Having compassion on the Nepalese people who frequently suffered from floods, they also restored the bridge that got easily broken by floods on the Tengra River, Sunsari in May 2015.
The Foundation also spares no effort in urgent aid for disaster-stricken countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, and Peru. Their volunteer services are inclusive and wide-ranging. That’s why many governments and municipalities ask for its cooperation. In 2013, Chairwoman Zahng Gil-ah signed an MOU with Gabonese President Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba to cope with climate change. In 2011, the Foundation signed an MOU with the Department of Education, Youth, and Sport of Takeo Province, Cambodia, to work together on various initiatives such as the Clean WORLD Movement and youth welfare activities. In May 2015, carrying out earthquake relief efforts, the Foundation signed an MOU with the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Nepal, the biggest international organization in the field of nature conservation, to cooperate in coping with climate change, preventing destruction of the environment, and working on sustainable development.
Nowadays, individualism and egoism prevail in the world. However, the members continue to offer their love and help without ignoring others’ pain. Recognizing such works of the Foundation, many governments and organizations offer medals, awards, and certificates. The Foundation was awarded the Order of Merit from the Korean Government, the Royal Order from Cambodia, and the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award even three times including the Lifetime Achievement Award. Organizations in Peru, Philippines, Mongolia, Chile, New Zealand, India, Mexico, Venezuela, Nepal, Cambodia, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Argentina, Japan, and more expressed their praise and gratitude to the Foundation by giving citations, certificates of appreciation, and plaques of appreciations.
Mother’s love is a lingua franca. Based on that attitude, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation carries out volunteer services. speaks of its humble but great aspirations in 2016: “As Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah embraces people of all races and languages, saying, ‘We’re one family living inside the same fence called the earth,’ we’ll share love of a mother with all people living tough lives in this world.”
Intl Editor Yeo Hong-il