Two concert fund-raisers will take place Thursday and Friday to help expat charity group Helping Others Prosper through English run its Christmas programs for underprivileged children.
HOPE plans to run events at the children’s cancer ward at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, and at the Mulmangcho Adolescent Shelter, an adjustment center for North Korean defectors who have recently arrived in South Korea.
The concerts will feature Angry Bear, Colin Phils, Magna Fall and Mineri on Friday and Beet Juice, Reasco, Sighborggg and Mixed Blood on Saturday, and money raised will help pay for gifts for the children.
HOPE project director Eddie Robinson said he had already raised about 500,000 won ($450), but hoped to reach about 2.5 million by the time of the events.
Robinson said they would provide activities for the kids and bring in a clown magician to perform, after which Santa would arrive to give out gifts for the children.
Similar volunteering events were held at the two centers last year, as well as Goodtree Children’s Center.
A volunteer dressed as Santa visits a baby in the cancer ward of Severance Hospital in Seoul during a volunteering event held last year by HOPE. (HOPE)
Robinson said the magic show would be a bit longer and more elaborate at Mulmangcho, where the performer had a bit more freedom.
“He will pull a real rabbit out of his hat and pigeons out of his sleeve and put them into a cage and make the cage disappear,” said Robinson. “He turned a cane into a snake last year, it was amazing.”
Gifts are either donated directly or paid for through money raised. Robinson said there was a large spread of ages at Mulmangcho, and suggested gifts including gloves, hats, school supplies, soccer balls and lip gloss.
“I have had as little as a couple of pairs of socks (come in) all the way up to $100 donations,” said Robinson. “Everything is accepted, we just want to show some love.”
HOPE, or Helping Others Prosper through English, is a volunteer nongovernment organization that helps underprivileged children, mostly through language teaching, in Seoul and nearby areas.
The shows will take place in Thunderhorse Tavern in Haebangchon from 9 p.m. A suggested donation of 10,000 won is asked for.
Thunderhorse is on the right side of the road leading north from Noksapyeong Station to the Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan areas.
Donation boxes will be put up at Thunderhorse Tavern and at Bottoms Up in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, and money to support the events can be donated via Shinhan Bank Account No. 100-025-517130.
By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)
