He doesn't remember well his years in elementary school. but must have volunteered in various ways back then, but it didn't leave much of an impression. While living abroad in middle school, he ran a shoeshine corner with his friends at the Korean Association Bazaar. He learned that volunteering can be rewarding and exhilarating through the experience of making decisions on his own and putting them into practice.
When he was in high school, he didn't have a lot of free time. It was not in an atmosphere where everyone had to volunteer for a certain amount of time as it is these days. There is one incident he remembers clearly, although it was more a donation than volunteering. There was a morning check-up for all students in the schoolyard, and the teacher conducting the lecture said a student was hospitalized and urgently needed a blood transfusion. He quickly volunteered almost automatically and headed to the hospital with the other two students. He had a few blood donation experiences, so it didn't feel special. In retrospect, a little courage, a little empathy, and a little familiarity make volunteering possible.
When he was in his first or second year of college, he was able to volunteer for various activities. He did help students study in the reading room operated by a local village organization while in high school. He taught catechism to the elementary school students in his parish church and volunteered for summer camp activities during vacations. Heartwarming encounters, conflicts, dilemmas, and limitations were experienced, sometimes difficult to overcome but all helped understand people and society.
It is difficult calling student council activities volunteer activities; it can be viewed as social participation. However, from the point of view of social contribution without payment, it is a volunteer activity. In the future, will we continue to see people dedicate themselves with so much effort, time, and passion without compensation?
It was after he became involved with the volunteer organization he started that he seriously saw volunteering as an important part of life. 'Gonggam', (Empathy) a non-profit corporation that seeks to protect the socially disadvantaged through the law and seek social change, has been operating a volunteer program since the beginning. In the meantime, at least hundreds of people have gone through this program, and they are engaged in various activities in society, including the legal profession, the media, and academia.
We had several serious discussions internally while running the program. The free-form application has been replaced by a human rights-friendly application that requires only the minimum necessary information, such as name and contact information. There are still many things to consider for volunteer activities to lead to community change through voluntary social value creation activities.
He constantly receives calls from people who want to volunteer. People of all ages and genders even cross borders. It will be one of the roles that society must play to fully capture the hearts of those who want to volunteer. He remembers the moments when he first volunteered and the moments when he was helped through the volunteer work of countless people. He sees hope for tomorrow in the passion and courage of those unforgettable moments of the past.
