Local NGOs receive generous support from Korean businesses

IN response to the devastation experienced after the recent riots and looting, the Korean Embassy and several Korean businesses rallied together to raise funds for four local non-governmental organisations (NGO) in KwaZulu-Natal.

Highway’s Open Door Crisis Centre and iKhethelo Children’s Village were among the four organisations that benefitted from this initiative.

More than R500 000 in cash and product donations was raised and handed over at an official ceremony that was held at the Capital Pearl Hotel in uMhlanga.

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Chairman of the Durban Korean Association, Kwang-Jeon Lee welcomed guests to the handover ceremony. South Korean Ambassador, H.E. Chull-joo Park addressed the guests and the representatives of the NGOs.

Director-general from the KwaZulu-Natal’s premier office, Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize was also in attendance and thanked the Korean Embassy and businesses for their generous support.

Donors included the Korean Embassy; KOTRA; the Korean Business Club, which consists of more than 30 corporate companies, including LG Electronics SA, KEPCO Africa, Afriq Fiber and the Koaf group.

“LG Electronics and Afriq Fiber, which suffered the biggest losses among Korean companies during the unrest, were the biggest donors for this fundraising initiative. A truly inspiring and remarkable deed that illustrates the power in collaboration and selfless giving,” commented Lee.

The Open Door Crisis Care Centre, like many non-profit organisations, was directly and indirectly affected by the looting in KwaZulu-Natal, not only in the loss of goods but also in financial donor fatigue.

ALSO READ: Donation helps secure Ikhethelo Children’s Village

“A call from Lee changed that for our centre,” said the Open Door’s director, Thora Mansfield. “After successfully submitting a proposal, we were invited to have dinner with the Korean Ambassador, Chull-joo Park and Korean business representatives who were badly affected by the looting, and Mr KL Lee,” she said.

Mansfield thanked Lee and said the donation would not have been possible without his support.

“We would also like to thank the Korean Embassy and local Korean businesses. We were privileged to have a follow up visit to The Open Door by the ambassador to see, first-hand, the work carried out by the organisation,” said Mansfield.

Two other NGOs that benefitted were Ukuthula Trust and LIV Village.

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