Home For Korean Orphans Visited

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32143, 12 November 1969, Page 3

Home For Korean Orphans Visited

A chance visit to a Christchurchsponsored home for orphans in South Korea has led a Christchurch woman to add her energies to the fund-raising schemes for the project.

, The woman, Mrs Ann (Stackhouse, said yesterday that her visit to the Ilmagwon Home in Kunsan, South Korea, and the work she had seen had given her a great deal of enthusiasm for helping the children there. “I wasn’t connected with the project before I went and a friend and I decided to make the visit at the last minute while were were jn tour in the Far East,” she said. “I had some friends in Christchurch who were sponsoring children there and. we decided to visit them.” Sponsorship of the home was begun by Christchurch ! people in 1965 after inquiries ■by the Canterbury representative of the Korean Orphans ’ Scheme,, Mr J. Clarke. Building Demolished Later, Mr Clark was informed by the Korean organisers, Major Kim and his wife, Mrs Park, that the home, in an old Y.M.C.A. building, was to be demolished. A new home is almost completed. It has been built from funds raised by the efforts of the sponsors and the Jaycee chapters of Christchurch in a house-to-house appeal last May. A total of SBOOO was raised. Mrs Stackhouse and her companion, Mrs N. Harding, formerly of Christchurch, were met by Major Kim. who i acted as their interpreter and guide.

“The children were still in their old home when we visitd them,” Mrs Stackhouse said. “The conditions were appalling. They are in an old, tumbledown building,

overcrowded and lacking in the simplest amenities. “In spite of this they are happy and as well cared for as possible, The new home would be completed for the winter, due about now. The children, aged from a few months to, eight years, would he in new,! warm quarters. To raise funds for the furnishings and other amenities Mrs Stackhouse is organising a trek around Hagley Park on November 22. Provide Clothing She is also hoping to begin sponsoring a child herself soon. Sponsors keep a child in the home at a cost of about 50c to 60c a week, and also provide warm clothing, extra food parcels, Christmas parcels and supplies of vitamins. Funds are also provided for the purchase of jwVdered milk by C.0.R.5.0, About S3OO provides milk for the 70 children in the home for one year. Sponsorship ends when the child in Hmagwon Home reaches eight years, unless the sponsor wishes - to increase the donation to allow the child to stay. Failing this, the child is sent to another orphanage with different sponsors or placed in | a private home or farm. I Mrs Stackhouse said child*ren at the home began their (education at the age qf six. I If any showed above-average intelligence they were sent to special schools. TaughUlo Sing Religious instruction was given and the children were also taught to sing. “They have an old gramophone and love music,” Mrs Stackhouse said. The new home would give the children a much wider range of activities. If sufficient funds could be raised the half acre site on which the building stands could accommodate playing areas and i gardens. It was hoped to (acquire a milking cow., ; The picture shows Mrs 1 Harding (left) and Mrs I Stackhouse (right) on the ( site of the new building talking to one of the Korean building organisers.