 |
Bethany’s Sponsorship Program in Korea began in 1982 with Holt Il San Center. The residents
of Il San are disabled by varying degrees. Some residents are severely disabled, while others are able to perform tasks around the center or go to a job off campus. Few residents are available for adoption.
 The residents participate in activities such as sledding camp in the winter, special olympic events, they have a choir called “Voices of Soul” where they travel around the world for their performances. They learn skills such as beading, woodwork, and other skills that the residents then sell at market. The residents are able to keep some of the money for themselves to use on excursions such as going out for dinner, going to a movie, going shopping. The rest of the money goes back into Il San funds.
Residents who are able are expected to perform chores. They help out in the laundry room, they help prepare meals, they set and clear the table, they make their beds, keep their rooms clean etc. The residents raise chickens for eggs and have the responsibility for feeding the chickens or the small animals in the animal farm (used for animal therapy). They grow their own vegetables for food and have the responsibility for weeding, watering etc. (used for farm therapy).
Il San Center also has an internship program where volunteers from all over the world come to work with the residents for a year or more at a time. These volunteers perform physical, occupational, and speech therapy. They take the residents for walks and outings. They help the residents grow vegetables, or run the animal farm.
Because of the severity of disability for most residents, this is the only Sponsorship Program Bethany has where a sponsor can maintain a long-term relationship with their sponsored child. They live their entire lives at Il San Center.
|
|