Samsung Fire and Marine supports disabled youth

An orchestra consisting of disabled youngsters performs during the “Poco a Poco” concert organized by Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance at Hoam Art Hall in Seoul on Oct. 23. The event is part of its social contribution project to nurture the talent and capacity of handicapped young people. / Courtesy of Samsung Fire and Marine

By Chung Ah-young

Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance held a concert performed by disabled young people at Hoam Art Hall in Seoul on Oct. 23.

Titled “Poco a Poco” (little by little in Italian), the event is part of the company’s social contribution project to nurture talent among disabled children.

A total of 39 orchestra members, who have trained since the summer, performed with a choir of the companies’ executives, wowing the audience.

For this year’s concert, five former “Poco a Poco” members joined the concert, giving inspiration to the participants who dream of becoming musicians.

“There is no divide between people when performing music. I hope many other disabled students achieve their dreams of becoming musicians,” Noh Geun-young, a junior at Korea National University of Arts majoring in viola, said.

Lee Nam-shik, an official with the company, participated as a member of the orchestra and said he was greatly touched by the students’ performances. Before the concert, the company also gave scholarship certificates to three students to help them study music.

The insurer has hosted “Poco a Poco” since 2010 and has held a summer camp to select and nurture disabled youngsters with musical talent from 2009.

Also, the company has actively engaged in various projects to help the disabled, such as providing guide dogs to assist the blind and offering support to produce dramas raising awareness about disabilities.