Helping Others Prosper through English is holding a fundraising drive and volunteering event to give kids at the Goodtree Area Children’s center in Seoul’s Nowon-gu some Christmas cheer.

The center cares for 16 elementary-school children who have one or both parents missing or face other disadvantages.

HOPE aims to raise 1 million won ($928) through the drive to buy gifts for the children to be given out on Dec. 22 at the center. 

“Some of them don’t have gloves and hats and things that we hope to gain,” said Eddie Robinson, project director at HOPE.

“We hope to donate all the things that they need to keep themselves warm and aid in their education ― ESL books, workbooks, pencils, just basic fundamental things and a few extra things as well, like sweaters, undergarments.”

Volunteers will make snacks for the children, wrap presents and hang decorations in the morning and play games and give out gifts in the afternoon.

“One of our volunteers is going to dress as Santa Claus and do the deed for us at the end, so it should be pretty fun,” said Robinson, who has been involved with HOPE since 2010.

There are donation boxes at Sam Ryan’s in Itaewon and Bottoms Up in Guri City to receive cash, gifts and stocking stuffers until Dec. 21. Donations can also be made directly to the organization via bank transfer.

HOPE has had volunteers tutoring at Goodtree for more than three years.

HOPE is a nationwide organization that mainly tutors children in conversational English through volunteers at churches, child care centers, and orphanages.

“They are places where we do the tutoring after school, where the student can’t afford an academy or can’t afford a hagwon. We provide education in English to keep them at the same pace as the other children,” said Robinson.

They also work also at Hanawon, the center where North Korean refugees are taken after arriving in South Korea.

For more information about HOPE’s activities, visit www.alwayshope.or.kr

Direct bank transfers can be made to the organization via Kookmin Bank, account number 282201-04-164073.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)