미지센터의 청소년 국제교류이야기

I could not understand why people in Africa laid tens of children when they could not raise them all healthily. Neither could I comprehend why an enormous continent, Africa, with so much resource left underground, they would not dig them up and make use of them. But as it turns out, we were lucky that we were not born in Africa. Most chances are that we too would be suffering from extreme poverty and malnourished if we were simply out of luck. Just as we are protected, since birth, under a relatively stable environment, African children did not choose their destiny either.

‘Phew, that was close..’ Sure. We successfully made a narrow escape from not being born in Africa. But this is not an attitude to be encouraged. We cannot put off solving the seemingly endless chain of poverty forever. As a same human being with a sense of compassion, we feel sorry to hear their everyday lives. We will never experience that pain but 2 billion populations is covering their stomach, not in hunger but knife sticking pain.

There was a lecture by Song Shin Hye (The Korean Committee for UNICEF, Manager of Education Development Division) in MIZY center (Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchange) in July 20th, with the topic of ‘MDGs, for A World Where Every Child is Happy’. The lecture was originally for the Youth Reporters of MIZY, but it became open for anyone who is interested in child well-being and MDGs.

Song Shin Hye, Manager of Education Development Division, The Korean Committee for UNICEF alks about how UN can be compared to a galaxy.

I was surprised to hear there were so many close relations between MDGs and children. MDGs are Millennium Development Goals, approved by UN in 2000, Summit Meeting. It has designated 8 conundrums to be solved upon decided percentage by 2015. (See below for more information) She declared very shocking statistics from the beginning of the speech, that 50 percent of the social class to be protected by MDGs is children, by definition, people of five to eighteen years old. They are vulnerable; immune system is to be developed by thorough nourishment. Yet, overwhelming number of children in South-West Africa, for instance, is heavily dependent on infrequent, unsustainable foreign medical aids. They are so depended on those aids that the number fluctuates according to the foreign aid given.

MDG declares: ‘As leaders we have a duty therefore to the entire world’s people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs. ’ However this promise is not being kept very well. The average life expectancy for people in Zimbabwe is 36. A third of children are dying of malnutrition. Pneumonia derives from simple cold. Many African children suffer from diarrhea because they drank filthy water. Malaria is easily overcome than common mosquitoes’ bites but they are known to be deadly because people in Africa have weak immune system to fight against malaria.

                                                               MDG slogan

UNICEF is facing several responsibilities: First they must increase maternal health (MDG Goal 5: Maternal Health). When mothers are healthy, entire household becomes healthy (MDG Goal 4: Child Health). Children do not have to work instead of their parents but go to school. This is how universal education comes true (MDG Goal 2: Universal Education). People become more intellectual, and develop their insights towards the world through education. This leads to eradication of extreme poverty and hunger (MDG Goal 1: End Poverty and Hunger) in the long run, because educated people are more likely to have better jobs than simple labor or going through trash. Someday, female version of Nelson Mandela will be leading Africa. At this moment, women are less educated compared to male, but through ‘universal’ education, more women will fight for gender equality and empower women (MDG Goal 3: Gender Equality). Ultimately, national strength and sovereignty will come to stand firm, and their governments will focus on basic sanitation as their life quality increases. HIV/AIDS and other diseases will be eradicated (MDG Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS) by increased sanity.

                                           UNICEF(United Nation Children's Fund)
 

There is a time limit to MDG goals. Until 2015, all the goals should be met. However it seems to me it would be very hard in any goal to reach the expected level. Nevertheless, I think we should keep going like we used to. It doesn’t mean the world will end in 2015, the time will pass but people stay the same. The time limit exists to give pressure and prevent from nations saving the issue for later but encourage instantly putting action to it. Whenever we believe it is already late, it is the earliest it can get.

 

Now: how can you contribute to UNICEF and to the world’s being?

Go to https://www.unicef.or.kr/donate/main.asp

You can send gifts or monthly donations. 1,000 won a day can save a dying child. In your pencil case, you are carrying lives of 10 children. What would you do? It is in your hands.

 

 

 

MDG goals

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

           - Halve the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day

           - Achieve Decent Employment for Women, Men, and Young People

           - Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education 
       - By 2015, all children can complete a full course of primary schooling, girls and boys

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
        - Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality rates
          - Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

      -       Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio
-       Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

      -        Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
-        Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it
-       Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

      -  Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources

      - Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss

      - Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see the entry on water supply)

     - By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

     -        Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system

     -       Address the Special Needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDC)

     -       Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and small island

     -       Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term

     -        In co-operation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries

     -       In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

 

비가 추적추적 내리는 오후. 궂은 날씨에도 불구하고 남산 국립극장 앞 광장에 사람들이 모이기 시작한다. 하얀색, 하늘색 풍선들이 곳곳에서 눈에 띄는 이 곳은 바로 <2011 유니세프 사랑의 맨발걷기 대회>의 출발지점이다. 광장 앞 무대에서 걷기대회의 시작을 알리는 축하행사에 참여한 어린이, 중고생, 대학생들과 할머니 할아버지에 이르기까지 약2500명의 다양한 사람들의 표정이 설레임으로 가득 차 있었다. 비가 오는데도 불구하고 신발을 벗고 젖은 남산을 걷던 시민들. 그 어느 해보다 따뜻했던 2011년 사랑의 맨발걷기 대회의 이야기를 시작한다.

   유니세프 사랑의 맨발걷기대회가 17회를 맞았다. 올해 맨발걷기대회는, '맑은 물 파란 꿈 친구와 함께'라는 주제로 물을 얻기 위해 매일 먼 길을 신발도 없이 걸어야 하는 아이들을 생각해보고, 체험해 보자는 취지로 열렸다. 이번 행사에는 맨발걷기뿐만 아니라 각종 구호물품 체험, 물긷기 체험 등 행사의 취지에 맞는 다양한 체험행사도 같이 진행되었다.

   아프리카의 아이들을 돕는 데 쓰이는 구호물품을 알아볼 수 있는 스티커이다. 스티커를 다 모아야지 봉사시간을 받을 수 있었다.

맨발걷기대회가 개최되었던 5월 21일, 어두운 하늘은 당연하다는 듯이 비를 내렸지만, 개그맨 변기수의 진행으로 시작된 축하행사가 진행되는 동안, 비가 서서히 멎어가 순조로운 진행을 할 수 있었다. 인사말 및 행사안내가 끝난 후  <GO, Go아프리카>라는 이름으로 아프리카 인들의 전통악기 연주 및 춤 공연이 열렸다. 그들은 경쾌한 음악과 함께 아프리카 특유의 음색으로 참가자들을 사로잡았다. ‘한국 너무 사랑해요.’ 를 서툴게 발음하며 노래해 분위기를 더욱 끌어올리기도 하였다.

행사는 개그맨 변기수 씨의 사회로 진행되었다.

   축하행사가 끝난 후, 참가자들은 모두 걷기 대회의 시작을 알리는 선언과 함께 남산을 올랐다. 하지만 그날 비가 많이 내렸기 때문에, 신발을 벗지 않을 것을 권장하였다. 대부분의 시민들이 우산을 쓰고 신발을 신은 채 걸었다. ‘맨발’의 의미가 큰 행사이기에, 많은 기대를 하고 왔기 때문인지 몇몇 참가자들의 표정에 실망함이 역력했다. 그 때, 참가자들이 하나 둘 신발을 벗기 시작하였다. 아이의 신발을 벗겨주고 함께 맨발로 걷는 가족, 친구, 학생들과 할머니 할아버지까지. 과감히 신발을 벗고 비가 내린 땅을 밟는 사람들은 굉장히 설레고 뿌듯한 표정이었다. 맨발을 택한 그들은 신발을 신고 걷는 사람들의 시선을 받으면서 즐겁게 대회를 즐겼다. 초등학생 아이들은 차갑다고 하면서도 누구보다 신나있었고, 엄마 아빠 손을 잡고 걸어가는 어린아이들도 처음 해보는 경험에 들뜬 표정이었다. 우리가 지금 왜 맨발로 걷는지 설명해주는 학생들과 함께 온 초등학교 선생님도 있었다. 유니세프가 왜 ‘맨발’걷기 대회를 열어왔는지 가슴으로 깨닫게 되는 순간이었다.

   맨발로 걷는 길은 차갑고 딱딱했고 발은 금새 더러워졌다. 하지만 약 2시간의 걷기대회는 참가자들에게 평소에는 생각 조차 하지 않았던 지구 반대편 아이들을 생각하게 하는 시간이었다. 도착지점인 목멱산방에 다다른 참가자들의 발은 흙으로 지저분해졌지만 누구 하나 싫증 내는 사람 없었다. 비가 와서 오히려 더 특별했던 <2011 유니세프 사랑의 맨발 걷기 대회>는 그렇게 마무리 되었다.

   유니세프 사랑의 맨발 걷기 대회는 가족, 친구 또는 연인들과 특별한 추억도 만들고 5000원의 참가비는 기금으로 활용되어 내가 직접 가난한 어린이들을 도울 수 있는 일석이조의 대회다.
매년 열리는 행사이니, 올해 참가 기회를 놓친 사람들은 내년에 한번 참가해보도록 하자.

 

<영상취재: 서용민, 리포터: 최한나>

참가 신청은 유니세프한국위원회 누리집(www.unicef.or.kr)에서 할 수 있으며, 참가비는 5000원이다. 행사에 참여하는 모든 참가자에겐 4시간의 자원 봉사 확인증을 준다.

 

     People still believe Korea is a homogeneous ethnic group. Truly the majority of the population is Korean. However, Korea is no longer conservative and closed. The number of foreigners inhabiting in Korea increased by three times in a decade; more than one million foreigners live in Korea. Also they have formed villages (or mini-countries) in Korea. I will introduce foreign communities in my neighborhood, Seoul.

Suh-rae Village(서래마을), Petit France in Seoul

     
      Since 1985 Suh-rae Village (서래마을) in Banpo-dong Seocho-gu has been called French village in Seoul. As International French School moved to Suh-rae Village from Hannam-dong, more than half of total French population in Seoul also moved to Suh-rae Village and formed French village. You might imagine typical European village: pentagonal houses in rows, streets made of pebbles, and small flower bushes. But Suh-rae Village is Koreanized European village – it does not resemble traditional European village. It looks like common Korean town, and the French live like us, Koreans. They exercise at Park Montmartre on weekends; kids attend International French School.
      Villagers maintain European traditions, too. They hold Christmas party called French Christmas world. During the festival period, kids dress up in angel, Santa Claus, etc. costumes. Villagers prepare traditional Christmas food and share it with others.

Islamic Itaewon, Muslim Street 
 
     After the 6.25 war, the US army force moved into Itaewon. Besides foreign soldiers, other foreigners from Argentina, Denmark, Nigeria… started to live in Itaewon. Now, 70% of floating population is foreigner; different cultures coexist and mingle in Itaewon.

 < Image excerpt from http://cafe.naver.com/wdc2010.cafe?iframe_url-/ArticleRead.nhn%3Farticleid-3650&>

      Yet Muslims who live in the Muslim Street try to maintain its unique culture. The street originated in 1970s when people from Middle East came to Korea as industrial labors. The street begins from the Bokwang elementary school in Itaewon. Iconic turquoise tiles and musk fill the street. Musk is open to public. But you should follow the Muslim etiquette: women should not enter the musk through center stairs, men and women pray at separate rooms.
      Around the musk are halal (food permissible according to Islamic Law) stores, Syrian bakeries, etc. Islam electronic store sells e-book Korans and cell phones with Koran-alarms which ring five times a day.

Love for Red, China Town
      Several Chinatowns are located in Korea. But besides the one built in Ilsan (2005), other Chinatowns are unofficial. China Town located along Daelim station and Nam Guro station in Seo-daemoon Gu is also unofficial one. 

<Image Exerpt from http://mojjustice.blog.me/150112048762>

     Whether the town is official or not, they all have strong Chinese atmosphere. Most apparently a lot of store signs are red and are written in Chinese characters. (The Chinese’ favorite color is red.) Moreover there are diverse Chinese restaurants: Yanbian nangmyun(냉면) restaurant, Chinese fried cookies shop, original Chinese restaurant…

More than just a Flee Market street, Philippine Street

<Image exerpt from www.worldyannews.co.kr>
     Philippine Street in Hyehwa-dong is renowned for flee market. Philippines who live in Korea call it “the 2nd Manila.” The market has eleven-year-long history; about a decade ago, Philippine Catholic priest visited Korea and started the flee market. Unlike other flee markets, people sell Philippine products. You can taste Filipino food like Balut (boiled egg), cassava (cheese-cake), and sausage. 
 

 
      There are other foreign towns in Seoul such as Little Tokyo (Dongbu Ichon-dong), Nepal road (Changshin-dong), and Russian village (Dongdae-moon). And even more are located outside Seoul. Foreigners have now become our neighbors. Whenever you want refreshment but lack time for a short trip, try visiting foreign-neighborhood in Korea.

/MIZY Youth Reporters Yeong-ran Ahn