It has been a busy first year for Help Your Suwon.

The group has been going since November 2011, and meets each Sunday evening to buy food and distribute it to the homeless at Suwon Station.

In that time, the group has got some practical support from a local NGO that works with the homeless and seen their numbers grow, but they are still a tight-knit group.

“This is why I am saddened to see four people leaving the country (for now),” said group co-founder Oh Jun-chul. “One of them I met at Help Your Seoul and she and I together hatched the idea to launch Help Your Suwon.”

Both Help Your Seoul and Help Your Suwon meet every weekend, chip in with their own money to buy food and put it into bags which they take to the cities’ main train stations and distribute it to the homeless people there.

“It’s difficult for the other volunteers to communicate with them because they are all either Canadians or Americans and they don’t speak the language, but even so we try to speak with them and ask how they are,” he said.

Oh said it was difficult to develop a meaningful relationship with the homeless there, but their group had been recognized as a source of help.

“While we’ve been doing it every week, it’s kind of hard to do something more (to establish a connection), because one week someone might be there but the next week he is gone,” said Oh. “We might ask his whereabouts but no one knows, so it’s kind of hard.

“But at least they recognize us and ask for any help or assistance before we walk up to them and ask.”

Homeless people are sometimes regarded as dangerous or ill-mannered, but this was not the experience of Help Your Suwon.

“We haven’t had any run-ins with any of them. They are always grateful,” said Oh.

“Unlike the social prejudice that is upon them, I haven’t seen any skirmishes among them. We have never been antagonized by them or anything like that.”

After each volunteering session, the group has a get together and shares a meal. Other times they meet for social activities, such as watching a soccer match.

“That’s quite different from Help your Seoul,” said Oh. “We have a pretty solid camaraderie and teamwork from sharing food together and getting involved in this cause.

“Everyone is committed to this cause but it’s not just the volunteering. We have been able to build very strong friendships with each other.”

The group is open to anyone who can dedicate some time each Sunday evening. While there are no real requirements to join the group, Oh is keen to stress that commitment to participate each week is important.

To see more of the group’s activities, visit indefatigableoh.blogspot.com, where Oh keeps a regular update. To get involved, email indefatigableoh@gmail.com.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)