The New Life Family Walkathon, which is the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation’s welfare event, has spread to the United States. On August 5, 2018 more than 2,000 WeLoveU members of the US East Coast Chapter from Florida to Boston came to participate in the “U.S. East Coast New Life Family Walkathon 2018” held at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
New Life Family Walkathon Lands in the United States
The New Life Family Walkathon is a welfare event that the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation has been holding every year in Korea since 2002. Nineteen walkathons have been held so far, conveying love to neighbors going through difficulties in Korea and overseas, including children suffering from intractable diseases, underprivileged households, refugees, etc. The members of the U.S. East Coast Chapter also put spurs to the welfare activities the WeLoveU has been carrying out in America as they took the first step of the New Life Family Walkathon.
The representative welfare activity of the U.S. East Coast Chapter is “The #BrightHaiti Project,” which aims to improve the living and educational conditions of the students in Haiti suffering from the shortage of electricity. Haiti Infrastructure was severely damaged by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010; houses, governmental buildings, as well as educational and medical facilities were destroyed. To make matters worse, in 2016 Hurricane Matthew hit the land of Haiti, and they are still struggling with a continuous supply of drinking water and electricity.
In May, the WeLoveU provided 3,000 solar-powered lanterns to the Port-au-Prince Vocational School to help students study at night with a clean and safe light source. The U.S. East Coast Chapter’s New Life Family Walkathon was held as the second phase of “The #BrightHaiti Project” to install solar panels in the school and the donation of school supplies.
New Life Family Walkathon Containing Mother’s Love
The New Life Family Walkathon began with the entrance of the U.S. Navy Color Guard. At the opening ceremony, the first part of the walkathon, President Dong-il Lee of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation East Coast Chapter explained the purpose of the event, saying, “Today, we have gathered to brighten the welfare of Haiti and humankind,” and he also said that we should help take care of hardships in various parts of the world through activities that are filled with a mother’s love. His opening speech was followed by a presentation explaining how the WeLoveU’s activities and initiatives align with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].
“Each activity, plan, and event carried out by the WeLoveU contains a mother’s love. In a society where individualism is prevalent, people often fall into despair, and the best solution to heal those in need is a mother’s love. It is because only a mother’s love has the capacity to embrace and take care of people throughout the whole world.” President of US East Coast Chapter Dong-il Lee
A Meaningful Time, Strengthening the Meaning of Volunteer Service
Around noon, the main event—the walkathon—started along with the performance of the marching band. Participants of various ages, from young children to the elderly, walked together with their families and friends, as cheer teams cheered them on with shouts such as “Don’t give up!” and “We love you!” which resounded here and there. A panel exhibition on the Sustainable Development Goals and the WeLoveU’s activities, and a booth for support signatures were also prepared, which was well received.
Just as a mother gives unconditional love and devotion for the happiness of her children, the WeLoveU has been carrying out volunteer services that transcends borders, for the happiness of families in the global village. On this day, the members made a firm resolution to continuously participate in the WeLoveU’s footsteps to brighten the future of Haiti students and further open up a sustainable future for humankind.
