[MANNAM International] Hands to Hands:MANNAM Volunteer Association rallies to bring relief to Indian youth

Hands to Hands: MANNAM Volunteer Association rallies to bring relief to Indian youth
 

This Saturday, 6 July 2013, MANNAM Volunteer Association (MVA) held a donation drive at Jumong Elementary School. In May 2013, MVA began collecting stationary supplies for children in India. Following the catastrophic floods in the region, MVA expanded the project, collecting clothes, raincoats and shoes, which will be sent to youth in disaster stricken Uttarakhand. Already sponsors have stepped forward, providing some 200 pairs of shoes, clothing and other supplies.

In total, the drive brought in about 3000 units of stationary and 40 boxes, about 150kg, of supplies in Seoul alone. Around Korea, the 13 branches of MVA International will continue collecting supplies, and will ship them along with the other donations received. MVA is appealing to local and international shipping companies for help in delivering the goods to those in need.

One dedicated member commented, “The people of India are really suffering because of the recent disasters. I know the donations we send will not solve all their trouble, but I think we’d all be very grateful if something we did could help in some small way.”
“In India, the situation is such that relatively small donation from our side can have a very large impact in the lives of those suffering - especially the youth,” said a spokesperson for MVA.

One of the MVA’s members, and Indian citizen, Mr. Satish Kumar said, “ I have been with MANNAM for almost one year, I’ve been doing volunteer work... and I am doing my best... sacrificing time over the weekend - it’s not so easy, but it is all to help people.” Mr. Kumar expressed how hard it was to send encouraging words to people in such a terrible situation, but expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Indian military, who have been so supportive of the community devastated by the floods.
“They carried people through the waters on their shoulders,” he said holding back emotions, “It is very touching.”

The initial project was started at the suggestion of Mr. Ashok Shrivastav and Ms. Ritu Prashar, reporters from Doordashan News (DD News) that covered the World Peace Festival held in Korea in 2012. Inspired by the event, they have been working closely with MVA in India to promote world peace.

“Indian news agencies reported that even the Chief Minister of the region, Mr. Vijay Bahuguna said that he had been numbed by the sheer magnitude of the calamity,” said a spokesperson for MVA’s volunteer coordination team. At the event, Renuka, another Indian member of MVA told an interviewer, “We feel proud to be a part of this event so that we can be little help to others.”