Mural-Painting Volunteer Activity on the lawn bowls fieldofJeonranamdo Community Rehabilitation CenterWhich Provides‘Understanding Disability Education’to Harness A Bond of Sympathy AmongLocal Children
[Daily CheonjiGwangju Branch=Reporter Mi-Ae Lee] Shincheonji Volunteer Group’s Gwangju branch (Vice Branch Manager: Kyeseung Lee) carried out a mural-painting activity to support the dreams and hopes of youth with disabilities.
Shincheonji Volunteer Group Gwangju’s branch revived obsolete walls with fresh paint in the lawn bowls fieldssurroundingJeonranamdo Community Rehabilitation Center from April 25th to May 4th.
The ‘Wall-Painting Stories with Hope’ program, which began in 2013, is a socialinitiative founded by Shincheonji Volunteer Group whichre-paints dilapidated village walls to unite people in a message of peace and hope.
This mural contains life-giving images of people with disabilities. The daily life of many people,young and oldalike with families on a stroll give a warm welcome to guests with disabilities who come to the center.
The wall painting, which is 35 meters wide and 2.8 meters long, was painted by more than 80 people including a team of 7 professional mural artistsfromShincheonji Volunteer Group with their family members, businessmen, people with disabilities, young students and children. The mural took 6 painting sessions over 10 days.
Moreover, Mr. Gukhyeon Kim, manager of Jeonnam Disabled People’s Lawn Balls Association, deliveredhis talk on ‘Understanding Disability Education’for the local youth and wall-painting volunteers to help change society’s perception towards people with disabilitiesto one without prejudice or discrimination in the morning of May 4th - the last day of the volunteer activity.This gavegreater meaning to ‘Wall Painting Stories with hope’program.
Kyungwon Park, who joined in the wall-painting activity with family members, said,“I gave my spare time in the morning and afternoon to share in the joys of this voluntary activity, but I found that this activity actuallyhealed my heart.”
He added to his joy for the voluntary activity, saying,“I never thought that anyone could be considered someone with a disability. This has also been a valuable time for my children having met the lawn bowls players in person. I hope that the wall-painting activity will increase the vigor of lawn bowls players.”
Lawn Bowls is a sport involving rolling a ball outdoors.Since the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, it has become a very popular sport for those with disabilities, forming annual national lawn bowlscompetitions for the disabled. But it still requires a lot of support from the general public.
Shincheonji Volunteer Group has been volunteering annually to help in the successful hosting of the National Lawn Bowls Games for the development of the Lawn Bowls Association. It received an appreciation plaque from Jeonnam Lawn Bowls Association in 2017.
Mr. Gukhyeon Kim, Jeonnam Lawn Bowls Association manager, said “News about the wall paintings of the lawn bowlsfield has already spread farand wide, and many people from other cities want to come to see this. This is now our pride. The lawn bowlsfield has been re-born through a precious 10-year relationship between us and Shincheonji Volunteer Group. It will be a great boost for the development of lawn bowls players - particularly those with disabilities.”
A representative of Shincheonji Volunteer Group’sGwangju branch said,“We had a few rainy days during the painting activity which delayed its completion, so we had to put in more effortthan ever. I hope that our wall-painting initiative will fulfil its role in providing the lawn bowls field as a place that touches peoples’ hearts and gives hope to those with disabilities. We will continue to worktogether for the development of society through these social contribution activities.”