Global leadership of World Vision Korea
Area Development Program (ADP) managers from 15 developing countries pose during the Canaan Community Leadership Development Training Program organized by World Vision Korea in Wonju, Gangwon Province on June 13. / Courtesy of World Vision Korea
Developing nations find inspiration from Korean model
By Chung Ah-young
WONJU, Gangwon Province ― “We can transform. We are pioneers! We can do it!” Nineteen Area Development Program (ADP) managers from 15 developing countries shouted the phrases every 5 a.m. for three weeks at Canaan Farmers School in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
They gathered here from their regional offices of World Vision around the world to learn how the Korean office successfully switched from a recipient to a donor in 1991.
Currently, World Vision Korea is supporting 46 underdeveloped countries to improve their quality of health, hygiene and education as it had received foreign assistance in the past.
Managers from the regional offices of 15 developing countries make eco-friendly fertilizers in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
World Vision, an international non-governmental relief agency, was launched in Korea in 1950 at the ashes of the Korean War to help numerous war orphans and victims. Since then, it has expanded through Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, now becoming one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations with 40,000 staff active in 99 countries. Among them, 20 are donors, including South Korea, while 79 are recipients.
The organization’s regional managers came to Korea on May 20 and stayed through June 16 after participating in Canaan Community Leadership Development Training Program organized by the Korean office in Wonju.
They were from different countries and with different situations and agendas to tackle but they have something in common ― “learning developing skills from Korea to contribute to their native countries.”
They cultivate the plants at a small farm
“From this program we are learning many things. Specifically our minds have changed. We started to think differently before coming here learning through the topics. We are having other dreams and we are fully inspired by the process here in general,” Donatien Buzoya, Gitaba ADP manager in Burundi, said in an interview with The Korea Times.
The participants took part in farming activities and making eco-friendly fertilizers which they believe help their poverty-stricken native countries with innovative agricultural techniques.
However, they seem to be more inspired by the Korean-style capacity building process such as hard-level training and strong commitments in the international communities.
They take part in the morning excercise. / Courtesy of World Vision Korea
Denis Bideri, Ubumwe ADP manager in Rwanda, said that commitment is the most distinguished difference for Koreans who worked with his native workers through the World Vision activities.
“The biggest difference is the palipali (quickly) approach. Do you want business? Do it right now. That’s the difference,” he said. He said that they were excited to participate in the program because this cross cultural exchange is effective to understand culture for other World Vision offices.
Lotas Chisim, Dinajpur ADP manager in Bangladesh, pointed out that the Korean approach to help other countries is based on responsibility and commitment as Koreans want to see the immediate result of their support, which is leading to the close monitoring on what they are doing.
“They want to see change. Sponsors and donors of Korea want to see change. World Vision Korea is keeping up with us as well as those who are receiving support. It is the most oriented organization than other organizations in the world,” he said. World Vision Korea is observing them till they get the results with transparency and close monitoring, he added.
Now Chisim works as an ADP manager for World Vision in Bangladesh but he was a beneficiary from the organization when he was a child along with his nine brothers because his family was poor. He couldn’t have a decent meal every day and wore the same shirt for a month until the relief agency supported him. Chisim and his brothers could get high education due to support of the organization. His brother is also working as an ADP manager in another province in his country.
“If World Vision didn’t select us as beneficiaries, it is not possible for me to come here to talk with you and receive the training. I was from a grass roots family and now I am working here. This is my inspiration of World Vision,” he said.
Also the regional managers were inspired by Korea’s quick recovery from the poverty-stricken era after the war and quick growth to one of the world’s economic powerhouses through innovations and spiritual strength.
Buzoya said that during this month he stayed here, he learned not only technological skills and mindset such as how things can change. “We learned the Korean history through some topics and small briefings particularly the colonial period. I will leave Korea with hope but also with a heavy dream. We also face many troubles and wars between peoples. Korean people have overcome the past tragedy. We also can do it,” he said.
Blerina Lako, Tirana ADP manager in Albania, said that she learned small things from this program. “Every morning we think for our community and country. This makes us feel more proud of our country. We should start from small things such as managing time. We have to be on time at every meeting. Every moment we have to do something. Small things change your attitude and behaviors in your life,” she said.
“If people want to change the community, first we need to change ourselves. Please change. Canaan is doing very differently which is very attractive for my future development,” Chisim said.