Supporting an Accessible Life for People With Physical Disabilities
WeLoveU members in Peru carry wheelchairs with smiles as they prepare
to donate them to the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS).
Today marks a significant step in supporting the mobility of individuals with
physical disabilities in the Alto Amazonas-Lagunas area of the Loreto region.
The Loreto region, located in the Amazon rainforest,
faces significant challenges due to limited transportation infrastructure.
WeLoveU previously collaborated with MIDIS in 2021 and 2022 to provide
wheelchairs to elderly residents and individuals with disabilities
in the Yavari and Indiana regions of Loreto, helping reduce mobility challenges.
This year, 20 wheelchairs were donated to neighbors in Lagunas.
The handover ceremony, held on May 20, was attended by the Minister
and Vice Minister of MIDIS, members of Congress,
the Head of Lagunas, and the beneficiaries.
The event was held in a friendly atmosphere throughout.
The Minister of MIDIS presented a certificate of appreciation,
expressing heartfelt gratitude to the WeLoveU.
Julio Javier Demartini Montes, Minister of Development and Social Inclusion
“First, I would like to express my gratitude to Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah. The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation carries out many volunteer activities around the world, spreading love and strength to many people. The wheelchairs donated today will convey a message of love and unity to our neighbors in Lagunas, Loreto, far from Lima. Thank you very much.”
Julio Javier Demartini Montes, Minister of Development and Social Inclusion
Girdler Torres Rodriguez, Head of District Municipality of Lagunas
“Thank you for donating 20 wheelchairs with love. These wheelchairs will improve the quality of life for residents with disabilities and bring great happiness and support to their families as well. I’m grateful for the efforts of WeLoveU members. We love you!”
Girdler Torres Rodriguez, Head of District Municipality of Lagunas
Yorel Kira Alcarraz Aguerro, Member of Congress
“I stand here on behalf of the Peruvian Congress. I sincerely thank Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah for her support. This contribution is crucial for residents in the Amazon region. I deeply appreciate the chairwoman’s commitment to social inclusion and her enduring support for the people of Peru. I hope to join WeLoveU’s activities as well.”
Yorel Kira Alcarraz Aguerro, Member of Congress
The world becomes a more beautiful and prosperous place
through mutual care and compassion.
WeLoveU continues to reach out to those in need around the world,
working toward a world where no one is left behind.
Mother ‘s Leadership Creates an Equal and Inclusive Society
March is celebrated as Women’s History Month in the United States,
with International Women’s Day on March 8 serving as one of its key highlights.
Throughout this month, numerous events are held to acknowledge
the contributions of women to the founding and development of the States
and to honor the achievements of pioneering women across various fields.
On March 18, WeLoveU hosted a special forum
at the Paris Room of the Jay Conference in Bryant Park, New York,
inviting distinguished women leaders from diverse sectors.
Under the subheading “Celebrating Women and Mothers in Leadership
Across Industries,” the panel discussion was divided into two rounds:
Round 1, titled “Empowering Women and Breaking Barriers,”
and Round 2, titled “The World Will Change When People Change.”
in the second panel discussion
The panelists introduced how to overcome the social barriers
faced by women as they grew into leaders in their respective fields.
They also shared the factors that influenced their lives
and emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.
Wendy Brundige, Senior Vice President of Content Strategy, CNN Digital Worldwide
“When my mother heard that she had only six months to live, she did not get frustrated. Rather, I saw my mom graduate from college with a degree, even though she was in her forties. And that always stuck with me as against any circumstances. No matter what happens in life, if you keep fighting, you can really get somewhere,”
Wendy Brundige, Senior Vice President of Content Strategy, CNN Digital Worldwide
Bernadette Tuazon, Director of Photography, CNN Digital
“I really think us being together, sharing our experiences, that’s how we learn from each other. It’s the camaraderie of women that I truly enjoy at my work,”
Bernadette Tuazon, Director of Photography, CNN Digital
Inna Swinton, Actress and Writer
“Many of the things we do as mothers don’t have a name or a title, and people want you to have a title. I think this is the challenge that women face as mother.”
Inna Swinton, Actress and Writer
Dr. Nina Anderson, President of Tova Community Health
“I don’t have any children of my own, but I consider myself a mother. I had experience raising other children with the help of my mom. I believe that anyone can become a mother if they have the heart of mother’s love.”
Dr. Nina Anderson, President of Tova Community Health
About 50 WeLoveU members and citizens who attended the forum
empathized with the content of the discussion, and explored the leadership
needed to create an equal and inclusive society,
as well as the challenges women must overcome.
The panel exhibition that introduced the welfare activities of WeLoveU’s
Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah—aimed at creating a world
where no one left behind and where people live peacefully
with mutual respect—also provided great inspiration.
WeLoveU hopes that this forum will serve as a meaningful opportunity
to foster positive change for a better future for women and the world.
Happy Lunar New Year Holidays Together With Global Family 2024
Financial stability funds provided to 41 families, including international students, as well as household goods deliveries to 1,400 multicultural or marginalized families nationwide
Ahead of Lunar New Year, WeLoveU members became busier, as they continued their efforts to create a joyful world with the heart of a mother, ensuring no one is left behind. The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation conducted the “Happy Lunar New Year Holidays Together With Global Family 2024” event from January 31 to February 8, delivering household goods packages to 1,400 multicultural families, the elderly living alone, single-parent families, grandfamilies, and vulnerable households through 57 local governments nationwide.
On February 7, the “Happy Lunar New Year Holidays Together With Global Family 2024” event took place at the WeLoveU Education Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. This event was organized to celebrate the Lunar New Year by inviting multicultural families, international students, and foreigners residing in Korea. The aim of the event was to alleviate feelings of loneliness among those living abroad and to offer them opportunities to experience a sense of belonging and camaraderie as integral members of our society.
For this event, approximately 200 people were present, including 92 beneficiaries from 23 countries as well as WeLoveU members who organized and volunteered for the event. Among the attendees were WeLoveU Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, Board Chairman Lee Kang-min, and other directors, as well as diplomatic envoys in the Republic of Korea such as Ambassador H.E. Songkane Luangmuninthone of Laos, Ambassador H.E. Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle of Honduras, and Charge d’Affaires Oyunbaatar Jagdag of Mongolia. Also Yi Bae-keun, the President of Korea Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
“How difficult and lonely it must have been to come to a distant foreign land, build a new home, and adapt to a new society. Longing for your family and loved ones back home, yet finding to challenging to visit them easily, you have endured the pain of solitude. Today, may you have a happy and joyful time, transcending the barriers of language, culture, and environment, as if you were back in your hometowns. Let’s go together. We love you. Thank you.”
Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, in her opening remarks, extended a warm welcome to the global family gathered, expressing sympathy for their circumstances and providing comfort and encouragement. The Ambassadors of Honduras and Laos, and the Charge d’Affaires of Mongolia, who delivered speeches, expressed gratitude for the support of their compatriot students studying in Korea and for assistance to multicultural families. They conveyed their hope for ongoing collaboration with WeLoveU in fostering hope and courage within the global family, and in envisioning a brighter future.
The “Happy Lunar New Year Holidays Together With Global Family 2024” was a festive occasion arranged in the sequence of holiday gift donations, tasting holiday foods, and experiencing traditional culture, filled with the richness and joy of Korean traditional holidays. In addition to the gift packages provided to the invitees, living stability support funds were donated to 41 foreign families, including international students in Korea and those in urgent need of assistance. The global families enjoyed a variety of Korean diverse foods such as tteokguk (rice cake soup), japchae (stir-fried noodles), bulgogi (marinated beef), gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), sanjeok (skewered meat), tteok (rice cakes), sikhye (sweet rice drink), and kimchi. As they savored these dishes, they recalled the foods their mothers used to prepare back home during the holidays, sharing hearty laughter. After the meal, at the traditional cultural experience venue, participants enjoyed a variety of experiences with the assistance of domestic university student members. They tried on hanbok (traditional korean clothing) and engaged in various activities such as pounding steamed sticky rice to make rice cake, jegichagi, traditional board game yutnori, making hangeul identity tags, and making dalgona candy, having delightful moments together.
“This is my first time to celebrate a Korean holiday with Koreans. On top of that, with so many people from various countries! It is truly heartwarming and joyous. Providing us, international students, with the opportunity to experience Korean culture made it even better.” (An Iraqi student)
“Listening to the Chairwoman’s speech, I was deeply moved, feeling like I was about to cry as she empathized with the challenges of living away from one’s homeland. The WeLoveU event feels genuine. It gives me the feeling of being taken care of by a real mother, like a mother caring for her children.” (A Japanese immigrant woman)
“At today’s event, I saw the global community members having gathered here. In my country, Honduras, too, there is a Korean community, and they face many challenges as immigrants. Today, seeing you working together for immigrants, my heart was warmed. It was good to gather information about Hondurans in Korea who need assistance, through this event.” (Ambassador of Honduras to Korea)
This event touched the hearts of many, including a mother who came from a foreign country to care for her son who fell unconscious due to an unexpected injury at a sports competition; an international student who lived alone, focusing solely on academics even during the holidays; an immigrant woman who struggled with cultural differences after marrying in Korea; and foreign compatriots who exerted great effort to settle in Korea, the land of their ancestors. Some of the invitees expressed their desire to participate in WeLoveU welfare activities for neighbors and all humanity, hoping for future reunions. Interest, empathy, understanding, and communication are emerging as crucial elements for creating a future where loneliness is alleviated and everyone can find happiness.
Making a Beautiful World in Harmony
“We’ve made this together with dried flowers. Isn’t it beautiful?”
On December 10, WeLoveU members in Hong Kongparticipated in a cultural activity
with disabled people at the Wong Tai Sin Day Activity Centre.
This initiative was part of their efforts to support Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council [NAAC], which works to address the difficulties of the underprivileged and to improve the social functioning of individuals, families, and communities.
During the event, WeLoveU members engaged in drawing
and making simple crafts with their neighbours with disabilities.
Such activities are known to aid in the rehabilitation of those with disabilities,
helping them unlock their potential and encouraging their active participation in society.
Non-disabled participants gained a better understanding of the challenges that people with disabilities face, fostering empathy and contributing to the creation of a more inclusive society.
Gathering in small groups around tables,
the members carefully created art pieces with their neighbours.
The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy, as everyone showed
care and consideration for one another throughout the activity.
On the same day, the NAAC presented WeLoveU with a certificate of appreciation,
expressing their gratitude for the organisation’s active participation and support.
Cheung Wai Hung, Team Leader of Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council [NAAC]
Volunteers (WeLoveU members) and people with disabilities communicated by making handicrafts together. It was a meaningful experience to realize everyone has unique strengths. They seemed fun and happy to cooperate with each other. I noticed genuine, sincere smiles on the volunteers’ faces —it was very special feeling.
WeLoveU members, thank you so much for your enthusiastic and active participation today.
Cheung Wai Hung, Team Leader of Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council [NAAC]
Fiona, WeLoveU Member
“I didn’t know how I interact or spend time with disabled people, but today’s cultural activity gave me the answers. I could know better about them. I’m also very grateful to the NAAC staff for their thoughtful efforts in creating such a good experience.”
Fiona, WeLoveU Member
Anita, WeLoveU Member
“I am so happy to be part of this event. I rarely have opportunities to engage with my disabled neighbours, but today I realised that they have no difference with me—ordinary people, talking and making crafts together. It was a valuable learning experience. I hope more people participate in these activities, so we can better understand and communicate with one another.”
Anita, WeLoveU Member
WeLoveU strives to make a beautiful world,
where everyone lives in happiness and harmony.
21st New Life Concert
The Song of Hope Resounded After the Pandemic
On a day when raindrops turned into snowflakes in the chilly weather, a heartwarming event was held to comfort the cold and weary hearts of neighbors around the world. The 21st New Life Concert held after a four-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic, brought together members and an eager audience. They arrived early with excitement for the long waited concert and the cold could not bother those who had warm love for their neighbors.
On November 29, the 21st New Life Concert was held at the Students’ Gymnasium of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The event was organized by the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation and sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Seoul Metropolitan Municipality, the Korea NPO Solidarity of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Korea Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Incheon Sejong Hospital. Approximately 6,000 people attended the concert, including the WeLoveU Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, board members, and people from all walks of life such as law, culture, education, and media. Diplomats from around 10 countries, including Laos, Belarus, Mongolia, Iraq, Libya, and Sierra Leone, were also present.
Around 6 p.m., the first part of the concert began with the donation delivery presided by entertainer Kim Sung-hwan. In the opening address, Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah expressed gratitude to the attendees for consistently sharing their warm love. She stated, “Your warm love over the years have provided strength and hope to our neighbors, saving the global community.” Recalling WeLoveU’s slogan, she said, “Let’s ensure that no one feels lonely, with motherly love. WeLoveU will stay dedicated to the happiness of people around the world next year, too, so that your warm support and expectations will not be in vain.” She anticipated that the long waited concert would comfort people facing difficulties with the songs of love.
H. E. Oyunbaatar Jagdag, Chargé d’affaires of Mongolia to Korea, said, “Mongolia and Republic of Korea have had a long and close relationship, and our cooperation has already branched out extensively in many areas. Among them, humanitarian cooperation is essential, and WeLoveU is contributing to this through various activities. I wish prosperity for the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation.” H.E. Viliami Va’inga Tone, Ambassador of Tonga to the UN, and H.E. Odo Tevi, Ambassador of Vanuatu to the U.N. sent their video congratulatory messages, expressing gratitude for WeLoveU’s support for climate crisis-affected countries, and anticipating ongoing collaboration.
Subsequently, the donation delivery took place. Through the 21st concert, WeLoveU supported Morocco earthquake victims and Libya flood victims, as well as five countries—Tonga, Tuvalu, East Timor, Vanuatu, and Samoa—that are facing sea level rise due to climate change. Additionally, WeLoveU helped 141 underprivileged groups and multicultural families in the Rep. of Korea, contributing a total of 260 million KRW [200,000 USD] domestically and internationally.
The second part of the event began by the New Life Children’s Choir. The cheerful and lively choir with their bright smiles quickly brightened the atmosphere. The performers took the stage amidst the delightful atmosphere hosted by announcer Kim Byeong-chan, and expressed their overwhelming joy at performing at the New Life Concert after a long time, exuding their vibrant enthusiasm and heartfelt energy. Singers Lee Yong, Lee Seung-hoon, Kim Sung-hwan, Kim Jong-hwan, Lia Kim, Yoon Tae-kyu, Jung Soo-ra, and Sopranos Park Mi-hye, Kang Min-seong, Tenor Yoon Seung-hwan, and Baritone Oh Yu-seok presented a wide range of songs. The audience enjoyed a delightful time, shining their flash lights on their phones, and singing along. The passionate performance even received a standing ovation.
Singer Lee Yong expressed his joy, saying, “I’ve been looking forward to the New Life Concert. Unlike in the past, we now live in an age where we can access news from around the world, but it is challenging to readily assist others. I’m grateful to convey warm love through this event and donate my talents for our global neighbors.” Baritone Oh Yu-seok, who performed duets and solos, said, “The common theme of the songs we sang today is hope. I selected songs, hoping we could bring hope to more people. I wish everyone will embrace new hope and move toward a brighter future.” Singer Jung Soo-ra, who decorated the finale of the concert with “Ah! Korea,” responding to encore requests, said, “I’ve missed this stage so much. This had always been a rewarding and joyous performance that concludes my year, so I was thrilled to be back here again. I aim to continue supporting those in need with WeLoveU and spread love and courage.”
Counsellor Asem B A Abdelmalik of the Embassy of Libya to Korea, commented, “After the major flood in September, the situation in Libya is improving, but we still require substantial support. WeLoveU’s assistance will enhance the solidarity between Korea and Libya. I will not forget this help.”
Despite the chilly weather, attendees who arrived early at the venue expressed proud reflections, having together completed the concert with warm cheers and applause. Kang Yoon-seol (from Incheon) said with a warm smile, “Although we often hear about our neighbors’ challenges in the news, it’s easy to forget them quickly. But events like this make me believe that simple acts of kindness can bring forth a great love.” Yoon Min-kyu (from Seongnam) who attended with his entire family, said, “It’s been a few years since I attended the New Life Concert. This time was really touching. It was a meaningful experience that taught my kids the importance of sharing and volunteering.”
WeLoveU’s melody of love, signifying a new beginning beyond the pandemic, will powerfully resonate even more farther, ensuring that no one feels lonely in this world.
Working Together for a Safe and Healthy Life
On August 10, around 60 members from WeLoveU gathered at the Hong Kong
Jockey Club [HKJC] Drug InfoCentre in the Queensway Government Offices.
The gathering marked the launch of the ‘Crime Prevention and Anti-Drug Campaign,’
conducted in partnership with the Narcotics Division Anti-Drug Volunteer Group of Hong Kong. The initiative seeks to foster a safer and healthier community for local residents.
The HKJC Drug InfoCentre, a government-operated educational facility,
is dedicated to raising public awareness about the dangers of drug use
and preventing substance abuse through active citizen participation.
At three in the afternoon, following an educational session on drug-related laws
and regulations at the centre, WeLoveU members began their full-scale campaign.
They handed out eco-bags filled with pamphlets outlining the dangers of drug use
and encouraged citizens to join the effort to prevent crime and combat drug abuse.
On this day, the Narcotics Division Anti-Drug Volunteer Group honored WeLoveU
with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of its invaluable cooperation
in the recent anti-drug campaign.
“Among the participants, there are middle and college students,
as well as both men and women.
I can feel a great sense of positive energy from everyone.
Let us come together and tackle drug abuse as a team.
It is crucial that we address this issue.”
Anti-Drug Volunteer Group Chairwoman Zoe TANG
“WeLoveU members really show strong unity and energy.
I look forward to more chances to work together in the future.”
Anti-Drug Volunteer Group Vice-Chairman Raymond Wong
As more young people are being exposed to drugs and substances at an earlier age,
the Hong Kong government is stepping up its efforts to educate the public
about these risks. WeLoveU will join this effort and cooperate with the government
to help create a safer and healthier community.
Please stay tuned for the upcoming activities
from the Hong Kong WeLoveU members!