Education South Korea Project #15123

[KKOOM] Early education for Korean toddlers

by Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission

Project Report | Aug 21, 2023
The Power of Sharing Your Story

By Grace Lee | Executive Director

TaeHyeon speaking at the KKOOM Gala

In May 2023, KKOOM hosted its very first event in the United States out of our 15-year existence. It was the Dream Big Gala to bring more awareness about our mission and to start building community in Atlanta as there is a big Korean population in Atlanta, Georgia. The gala featured Korean food, performances, speeches from KKOOM’s Co-founder, donors, volunteers, and the highlight was hearing the stories from two boys who grew up at KKOOM-supported children’s homes.

TaeHyeon was one of the young adults asked to speak at the gala. He was raised at a KKOOM-supported children’s home since he was 13-months-old. During his speech, he mentioned that he didn’t know he was an orphan until he was 13-14 years old. “One day, my friend ask me, “aren’t you an orphan? I was so shocked to hear this news. Then I was very depressed and lost confidence. But my mother told me this: ‘You are my son, I love you more than anyone else. And the world is unfair, but Jesus is always fair.’ And I gained confidence in this remark and was no longer afraid that I was an orphan.”

We asked TaeHyeon to share his experiences speaking at the gala and his time in Atlanta. Below are his direct responses.

Did you enjoy the Dream Big Gala? What was your favorite part(s) about the event?

Absolutely yes it was perfect to me. Actually, I had never experienced something like this before that time. To be honest, I really liked and loved everything about [the] Dream Big Gala.

Were you nervous about speaking? Why?

I like to share my experiences with people. Actually I wasn't nervous before I went on stage. However , it was my first time speaking in front of many people in English, that’s why i was so nervous when I went up, but I have no regrets because I told to people what i wanted to say.

Did public speaking at the gala boost your confidence?

It gave me a lot of motivation, everything was appreciated, and I want to give to many children the opportunity they need when I achieve my dream and become a better person.

You shared a lot about your faith in your testimony. Why is your faith so important to you?

If there was no God in my life, I couldn't imagine how I would be living now. He showed me everything, told me and provided for me. I become a better person by believing in God and I think I became a witness to people.

What did you enjoy the most about your trip to Atlanta?

To be honest, I had the best time at Dream Big Gala. It was so nice to meet many people there, share my experiences, and learn about US cultures.

Did you enjoy Savannah? What was your favorite thing you ate or did in Savannah?

Savannah is the place I wanted to go even before I went to Atlanta. Grace drove for Nahyeon and me, so I was able to come back comfortably and happily. It was so nice like a vacation spot and I remember eating seafood deliciously.

How was it visiting the largest aquarium in the United States and one of the largest ones in the world?

This was also an experience I had never done before. The private tour and the aquarium was bigger than my house and was so impressive. When I was there, I was so happy and grateful to be here.

Did your trip to Atlanta motivate you to study English harder?

I thought I wasn't good enough there yet. But I’m not disappointed. I got motivated and am working harder now. I am studying English hard and preparing for the TOEFL test.

What are some other places you want to visit in the United States?

Actually, the palace I want to go to the most is California. Because I had a dream that I wanted to live in the United States when I traveled there. I want to meet the person who invited me there, and I want to tell him about my experiences.

TaeHyeon arrived in the United States in February 2023 to start an English Language Program in New York. The gala was his first time speaking to a sold-out audience in English. While he was nervous, he did an incredible job and we are so proud of him. He has overcome a lot of stigma and barriers to become successful today, and it inspires us how confident he is in sharing his own story to impact other vulnerable children. TaeHyeon’s words of encouragement to young children living in Korea’s social welfare system is this - “you are not alone.”

KKOOM is celebrating its 16th anniversary in September 2023 and it's stories like TaeHyeon's that show the direct impact of your generosity. TaeHyeon was not a KKOOM Preschool Scholar but he did arrive as a toddler at 13-months-old. Your giving makes a difference in the lives of the toddlers, children, and young adults we support. Thank you for helping young adults like TaeHyeon to believe "you are good enough," so they can believe in the power of sharing their stories.

Group photo with KKOOM's Co-founder Aimee

The VIP experience at the aquarium!

Group photo in Savannah with NaHyeon and Grace

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Mar 21, 2023
Growing our Impact - Spring Update

By Grace Lee | Executive Director

KKOOM's former preschool scholars Minnie & Harmony

The KKOOM Board of Directors recently did a SWOT analysis of our organization. It is an activity we do every few years to see what are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. With three pages filled with feedback from our all women-board members, we are excited to look for new opportunities to grow our impact.

As an organization that was founded in 2007 fifteen years ago, we have provided college and preschool scholarships for children at three KKOOM-supported children’s homes. One of our strengths is our strong relationships with the staff at the children’s homes where there is trust, accountability, and community to support Korean youth. While we celebrate this strength, we also see an opportunity to provide more scholarships to toddlers beyond our personal network of children’s homes.

In 2023, I will be working actively to identify volunteers or trusted individuals at other children’s homes so we can make more dreams possible for toddlers so they can get an early start to their education. We currently do not have any children that fits the age range to be eligible for the preschool scholarship at a KKOOM-supported children’s home. We anticipate that an eight-month-old who arrived last year will hopefully start preschool this fall semester.

Most children in South Korea start their education at two-years-old, but the Korean government does not provide funding for toddlers living in the social welfare system to attend school until they are four-years-old. This educational gap is funded by KKOOM because of you, your generosity, and your unconditional love to believe in their futures.

By the end of the year, we hope to have an update for you saying we reached our goal of growing our impact to support preschool scholarships at more children’s homes. Thanks to you, we can believe in the possibilities of providing equal access to an education for children who deserve it the most.

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Nov 17, 2022
A Season of Waiting - Fall Update

By Grace Lee | Executive Director

Clothing for a newly arrived child (10 months old)

We have all reached a season of waiting. Waiting to hear from that dream job. Waiting to have our own family. Waiting for our dreams and desires to come to fruition. During these seasons, it is difficult at times to see the hope at the end of the tunnel.

We are currently embracing the waiting season as we hope to fund tuition for KKOOM’s next preschool scholar. Earlier this year, we funded the necessary funds for Harmony to attend preschool. Now, she is receiving government funding to attend preschool because she is four-years-old.

In September, an eight-month-old baby arrived at a KKOOM-supported children’s home. The house mother said the baby needed new clothing and new toys. KKOOM provided a Welcome Boost Fund, approximately $150, to purchase the necessary supplies so the newly arrived child could have a fresh start.

Thanks to the generosity of the KKOOM community, the Welcome Boosts are always funded immediately when we share the need on social media. While the toddler is too young to attend school, we asked the children’s home when the baby girl will start preschool. She will start next fall in 2023.

The toddler is now ten-months-old and is the youngest child at the children’s home. During the holiday season, we will be sponsoring a gift of 50,000 won or approximately $40 so the precious baby can enjoy her very first Christmas.

In the seasons of waiting, it is a time to keep hope alive and to prepare when the harvest will come. Your one-time donation or monthly giving helps us be prepared for the unexpected. It helps us provide emergency funds so the children’s home staff can buy basic supplies for a newly arrived child. It helps boost a child’s future to achieve success by funding an education that they would not have otherwise.

We never know the exact needs or asks that will come from the children’s home. What we do know is this - we can always count on providing a preschool scholarship for any toddler who arrives at a KKOOM-supported children’s home, thanks to your unwavering love and support.

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