[KKOOM] Early education for Korean toddlers

Thanks to your generous support, HyungJun attended preschool in 2018 as a KKOOM scholar. Being three years old, he’s always dancing when he hears music and his house mother said he’s starting to speak. He has grown so much physically and socially since his arrival at Samsungwon Orphanage in July 2017. 

Starting in spring 2019, KKOOM could be sponsoring another toddler to attend preschool. KKOOM is communicating with the staff at Emmanuel Children’s Home to figure out the logistics. We wanted to provide you better insight on how KKOOM sponsors a toddler to attend preschool.

When a new toddler arrives at Samsungwon or Emmanuel, KKOOM provides Welcome Boost Funds of approximately $125 to help purchase clothing and basic necessities for the child. If the child is old enough to start school, KKOOM works closely with the orphanage staff to finalize details. We send a few questions to his/her house mother so we better know the child. The orphanage staff pick a preschool in the area and depending on the time of year, we plan for the child to start the next semester.

In the coming year, KKOOM plans on being able to support both HyungJun and the child at Emmanuel to attend preschool. It costs approximately $333 a month. Your support gives us hope that we can continue improving the lives of Korean children through an education. Nelson Mandela says, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.”

Thank you for changing this world, one day at a time, by investing in our KKOOM preschool scholars.

With gratitude,

Grace Lee, Chief Administrator

Last summer, a new orphan child named HyungJun arrived in July 2017. Being one years old (two years old in Korean age), he was underdeveloped physically for an average child at his age. Within the first three months of being nourished at Samsungwon Orphanage, his first teeth came through.

After living at the orphanage for one full year, HyungJun is physically healthy at two years old (three years old in Korean age) and just experienced his first annual summer trip with the Samsungwon children. In the photo above, HyungJun’s house mom is holding him in between water splashing at the camping trip. We recently asked his house mom to answer a few questions about how HyungJun is doing and if he enjoys preschool. You can read her answers translated in English below.

Please describe your child’s personality.

• HyungJun is shy with unfamiliar people, but he’s opened up more compared to last year. He likes to play outside and is very active.

What effect does the preschool education have on HyungJun? How has it influenced him?

• Going to preschool helps him develop socially through his peers and toddler play time.

What are your child’s strength and talents?

• I do not know very well yet, but when music comes out, he enjoys to dance, and playing ball with the kick-board is good.

Please leave any other comments.

• Thank you for helping HyunJun through his dreams.

After traveling to South Korea twice for KKOOM activities, I have seen first-hand the joy HyunJun carries around him when he hears music playing. Your kind generosity helps him succeed in different facets of his life. Thank you for playing a part in supporting HyungJun to grow academically, physically, mentally, and musically through some dancing beats.

We appreciate what you do to improve HyunJun’s life every single day. Getting HyungJun one step closer to achieving his dreams is possible thanks to you.

With gratitude,

Grace Lee, Chief Administrator

Links:

• Subscribe to our email listserv!
• Watch a video of HyungJun in our FB cover video!