MONA facilitates book donations worth 40 mil. won

Quynh Phan, founder of MONA, stands in front of Seoul City Hall, Oct. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

MONA, a pioneering social impact startup dedicated to helping businesses reduce waste and supporting communities, announced the successful redistribution of 40 million won ($28,608) worth of books to various charities across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

“We successfully facilitated 2,186 books redistributed to 2,186 children, one book per person, a total 40 million won value," Quynh Phan, the Vietnamese American founder & CEO of MONA, told The Korea Times. "On the social impact, if the books are shared with others, 10,930 people could benefit indirectly."

The MONA social community platform drives initiatives, campaigns and events to connect people who have items they no longer need with those who can benefit from them, whether businesses, charities or individuals. This promotes the idea of sharing and reusing rather than buying and discarding.

According to the startup, the book donation initiative was made possible through a collaboration with Korean Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Publishing. As part of MONA's commitment to sustainability and community support, this book donation was aimed at providing access to educational resources for individuals and families in need. Each book redistributed represents knowledge and an opportunity for growth and learning for children in the capital region. In addition to the environmental impact, the donation also made a profound impact on local charities. Over 2,186 children are expected to directly benefit from the redistribution of the books.

"At MONA, we believe in the power of collaboration and community support to create a lasting impact. This book donation is a testament to our mission of reducing waste while uplifting those in need," Quynh said. "Together with Korea NVC Publishing, we are making strides towards a more sustainable and equitable future."

MONA is a social impact platform that connects businesses with surplus products, near-expiry items or unused goods like furniture and appliances, to communities in need. By facilitating the redistribution of these products to charities and individuals, MONA helps businesses reduce waste, enhance their social impact and meet sustainability goals.

Additionally, MONA offers environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) marketing services and impact reports to support businesses in demonstrating their positive contribution to the environment and society. Currently, MONA is participating in the K-Startup Grand Challenge with CNTTECH, supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development. This program is helping foreign CEOs and global startups to do business in Korea. MONA was among 40 applicants selected from a pool of 1,716 applicants representing 114 countries.

In October, Quynh was honored as one of the “Women of the Future 50 Rising Stars in ESG” for 2024 nominated by the British Embassy in Korea. The prestigious award recognizes 50 trailblazing women aged 35 and under who are leading ESG advancements across the globe. Quynh was chosen to represent South Korea for this distinguished recognition, highlighting her role as a leading figure in ESG.

Visit monaofficial.co for more information.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.