Helping sixty households in fourteen cities and counties across South Korea in improving their residential environment

People in the blind spot of residential welfare become anxious when the temperature begins to drop. A gust of wind shoots in through sloppy window and poorly insulated walls, and snow and rain soak through ceilings. Winter heating bills also worry them to no end and break their hearts.

The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “WeLoveU”) launched a residential environment improvement project to alleviate the difficulties of the residential vulnerable. They decided to help a total of sixty households in cooperation with local governments of fourteen cities and counties in South Korea. Starting from the homes in need of urgent support, the members provided customized volunteer services such as wallpapering, flooring, insulation work, plumbing, and roofing. The WeLoveU also donated supplies such as boilers, sinks, washing machines, and comforters.

On December 22, the WeLoveU provided help to a total of six households in Busan, and to seven households each in Daegu and Gwangju, starting with a grandparent family in Seo-gu, Busan. The WeLoveU quickly repaired homes of nineteen households in Seoul, Chuncheon, Goyang, Daejeon, Incheon, Ulsan, and Seongnam in January, and homes of three households in Chuncheon and Suwon in February. They also plans to repair homes of remaining eighteen households within March.

The neighbors thanked the volunteers for helping them despite bitter cold weather. A beneficiary from Nam-gu, Gwangju, said that it was worrisome to see children being exposed to the danger of electric shock due to water leaks at home. He thanked the WeLoveU members, saying, “They not only repaired the roof but also installed electrical outlets where needed. They also tidied up the electric wires. It was a very cold day, but they came all the way up here and worked so hard from the morning. I really appreciate it.”

After receiving a new boiler and one hundred coal briquettes, a neighbor in Daegu said with a big smile, “My daughter used to study in a cold room, holding a hot water bag. Now I feel at ease. I’m very happy that I will be able to stay warm throughout the winter with my daughter.” A neighbor who received help in Daejeon said that it was heartwarming to see the WeLoveU members passionately volunteer, and expressed gratitude again and again to Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and the members, saying, “Words cannot describe how thankful I am. Thank you. I’ve never been so happy like this before.”

Local governments too welcomed the WeLoveU’s activities. Head of Busan Seo-gu Office Gong Han-su, said, “Home repairing is meaningful and means a lot to those who are not receiving government support. Thank you so much for improving residential environments for the vulnerable so that they can stay warm throughout the winter.”

Interest and consideration towards neighbors are nourishments for creating a world where no one is left behind. Shedding precious beads of sweat in the cold, the members hoped that the neighbors would stay warm throughout the winter in their homes that turned cozy and bright. Furthermore, they resolved to continue to look after people around them and volunteer for them.