Lee Kwang-hee, and im Heung-se, remaining have joined hands to promote humanitarian work in South Sudan by planting apple trees and training children to play football. By Shin In-seop
One soccer and one mango tree may generate a seed of desire in barren places of Africa, the mantra goes for the project proven by Im Heung-se and Lee Kwang-hee, who've devoted a large percentage of their time to improving the livelihoods of people on the region.
Im is the instructor of Football Acts 29, a South African youth soccer team, and is well known for his ability to make talent in the game.
Korean Olympic baseball coach Hong Myung-bo, whose crew won a medal at the London Games last month, trained Automatic IWC Pilots Chrono Watches
under his guidance in middle school. Ellie Ju-sung, still another distinguished official national team participant, also learned to perform the under Ims guidance during his middle school years.
What the specialist in the nations favorite game did recently, nevertheless, is far off the beaten football route. The 56-year-old coach has been at the front of the combat SUPPORTS Africa through his passion for basketball. The coach-turned-activist has used the last seven years setting up and functioning basketball academies in more than 20 locations in South Africa.
Im has set his efforts toward raising the degree of health among children born with HIV by enhancing their physical strength through the sport.
His efforts have spread to other areas of Africa, impressive volunteers like Lee Kwang-hee, a well-known designer and an owner of the Lee Kwang-hee Boutique.
Lee began her humanitarian function in 2009 when she visited Tonj in South Sudan with actress Kim Hye-ja. The popular actor and number known for her humanitarian efforts suggested the visit to Lee as they went to the troubled Sudanese community of Tanj.
Tonj in South Sudan, which became a independent state in July of this past year, is really a well-known village for Koreans as it is where the late priest Lee Tae-seok spent nine years Automatic Oris Oris Williams F1 Team Watch
serving the sick and poor before he died Gerald Genta Arena Sport cheap watches
in 2010.
Im Heung-se, wearing a hat, left, shows South African kids with HIV standard baseball skills. Provided by Im
Stunned by the Rado Integral Automatic Watch
impoverished state of parents profession, Lees first reduction work started by offering 100 mango woods targeted at saving villagers from hunger.
Mango bushes, which bear fruit twice annually five years after theyre grown, represent life and hope for many struggling in Africa.
Planting one mango tree costs around $15, which is really a huge problem for individuals in Tonj who struggle daily to produce ends meet.
Having seen people destitution, but also impressed with villagers selfless way of life, Lee founded the charity organization Himango in '09 and planted over 3,000 mango seedlings in Tonj and its surrounding areas over the past three years.
The Himango Village Center that will promote cultural and academic activities for villagers will also be setup in Tonj this year by Lee.
It was Lees proposal that the two collectively take part in the project for Tonj.
I was very well alert to efforts supply by Im in South Africa, offering desire to kiddies through basketball, the aid worker informed the JoongAng Ilbo in a meeting on Wednesday.
When I heard Im was in the nation, I lost almost no time finding him and asking for his involvement in a joint task.
It just happened to be about the right time for Im to defend myself against a new directive.
I started seeing children play with soccer shoes as a result of rapid economic development in South Africa, said Im. So I started initially to think it had been time for me to locate a new route to help those in need, then Lee questioned me for help, which I gladly accepted.
Ims next goal would be to setup a community basketball team in Tonj, a town now surrounded with apple trees planted by Lee. The success story of South Africa may be the story that South Sudan may also have in the near future.
I cant wait to see changes occur in the village with Lee through our efforts.
By Song Ji-hoon [jkkang2@joongang.co.kr]