Dear Friends,
As many of you go on your summer breaks, it is time for my family and I to say goodbye to Korea and to the adults and children connected to Open Arms. I will be heading to Almaty, Kazakhstan, for new adventures and experience. It will be sad and strange not to return to Seoul after my vacation this time around.
My first session for Open Arms was in February 2020, which was immediately followed by the closure of all programs due to COVID. During this time, I realised the amazing ingenuity and dedication of our team members and volunteers to keep OA moving forward in this testing time.
The children involved in the Myeongjin Program will always hold a special place in my heart. Starting in the midst of the pandemic, it was a learning experience for me as much as for the children. It was chaotic and difficult at the beginning. However, over time, with the children's growing trust and their understanding that they can rely on OA, something vital to our little organization, we are going from strength to strength. From April, we split the program in two, with the Primary and Teenager sessions. This has meant we can ensure our goal of allowing children to stay learning with Open Arms until they age out.
Open Arms have built a good relationship with Myeongjin and this has led to being able to get the teenagers out of the welfare home once a month. Thanks to our partnership with Dulwich, we can add a little variety to the children's lives and open up new opportunities for them, as well as interact with children for Shinmangwon Welfare Home.
Being a part of Open Arms will be something that will be hard to replace in life, but I am grateful for having the chance to grow as a teacher and person with the organization. I know that OA will continue to enrich the lives of children living in welfare homes. I thank everyone who has supported and helped me over the years. I'd like to say 'see you later' rather than goodbye as I know our paths will cross at some point in the future.
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