Babies Madness
Babies. If you have any experience
with them, you would understand no matter how much they cry and how bad they
throw a tantrum, you will just love them. My compassion for these little
creatures started early and seems to be endless. In Korea, I want to spend some
of my time ‘’playing with babies” which most people will just consider it as
volunteering. I tried to find out as much as information from the internet and
I came across Eastern Social Welfare
Society (ESWS). ESWS was founded in 1972 by Dr. Duk Whang Kim,
a lifelong Christian and an elder of a church. For twenty eight years, ESWS has
helped needy children find families, provides places and education for the
disabled children. I quickly found out that ESWS has a Babies home which is
accessible from our university.
When I visited ESWS in Hongdae area
for the first time, my heart was thumping hard to hear the babies’ cries even
though my elevator door just opened at the third floor of the building. I was fully
mesmerized and immersed by the numbers of infants and how cute they are. There
are probably about 40 babies in that place. They are group into 3 rooms based
on their age and health status. In order to volunteer, we need to sign up and
submit a health report. There are quite many foreigners as well as local
Koreans that are volunteering in this place.
These babies are in fact waiting in
line to be placed into a foster home and also getting adopted by a new parent.
Spending first few months of their innocent life, they never been loved or
cared by their biological parents. While being nurtured in this temporary home,
it is a great opportunity for us to play a role. Holding, hugging, feeding, changing
their diapers and play with them are the ways, we can show our empathy and love.
After several time visiting, I
realized that a baby named Su Bin that I used to hold a lot was not there
anymore. He had been sent to his foster home. It was somehow a gentle reminder
for me to love them unconditionally but not to get too attached with them. It
was a bitter experience but I should know that sooner or later, they will find
a better home.
As for me, I really feel grateful to
find this great place. If you want to take a better glimpse of this place, you
can visit http://adoption.eastern.or.kr/eastern/main/main.jsp?c_no=002
Besides doing field volunteering, you
can also donate some of your change when you see a giant pink transparent milk
bottle that I regularly bring with me =)
Remember! We share because we care and it is
never too late =p
