[ESG Feature] Briquettes for Love and Sharing
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2023-11-22
"Look out the window, look out the window. See the snowflakes fall." On the afternoon of November 21, an alley in Hangangno-dong, Yongsan-gu. The carol sung by the Briquette Sharing Volunteers, consisting of about 50 students and faculty members from Sookmyung Women's University, began to bring liveliness to the scene. The song, started almost in unison, made people smile while they were carrying briquettes. |
The university organized a volunteer activity with the "Warm Korean Peninsula by Sharing Briquettes of Love Campaign" and delivered 300 briquettes to seven families in the area, for a total of 2,100 briquettes, from 2pm to 4pm. The event was attended by faculty and staff, including President Chang Yunkeum and Vice President Park Jong-seong, as well as international students.
After a brief explanation of how to deliver the briquettes, the volunteers donned arm warmers, work gloves and aprons and formed a line to deliver the briquettes. The students in their early 20s, who had only witnessed briquettes in TV shows, were surprised by the heavier-than-expected weight of the briquettes. "One briquette weighs about 3.6 kg, which is the same as the weight of a newborn baby," said an official from the Briquette Sharing Campaign.
"We don't use briquettes in Vietnam, so this is the first time I've seen a briquette in real life, and it's bigger than I thought," said Vietnamese international student Le Ngoc Minh (Communication and Media, '21). "I want to make a good memory of my first volunteer activity in Korea." One of the recipients said, "I was worried about heating because winter is coming, but I feel so relieved to see the warehouse full of briquettes with the help of the students," and even made coffee for the students.
As part of our ESG practice, Sookmyung Women's University has consistently carried out activities to help the underprivileged in the local community near the university. Starting with the gift-giving activity in the deprived area of Seoul Station, we have promoted the values of coexistence and cooperation through overseas volunteer groups and volunteer camps during vacations, regular community service with the Yongsan Dragons, and donating laptops to schools in Mongolia in cooperation with Google.
Prior to the Briquette Sharing Campaign, the Sookmyung Love and Share Bazaar was held on November 7, where students sold snacks and items were donated by faculty and students to raise KRW 2.2 million to purchase briquettes. The Student Support Center said, "We planned the bazaar with the students because we thought it would be more meaningful to volunteer and pay for the briquettes ourselves rather than just delivering prepared briquettes," adding, "It seems that we have embodied the essence of ESG through activities that help the needy neighbors in the community and look back on the meaning of living together."
During the two-hour event, the students filled the volunteer site with cheerful energy by singing songs throughout while not forgetting to wrap up by sweeping up the briquette dust with brooms. "I felt proud to help a vulnerable area that hasn't been developed yet, and I would like to continue volunteering until no one needs briquettes anymore," said Jeong Seon-na (Korean Language and Literature, '23). "We use heaters a lot these days, but I was surprised that there are still more households using briquettes than I thought," said Jeon So-yeon (Law, '23). "It was hard work, but I think we did a meaningful job."
President Chang Yunkeum and members of the faculty also participated in the two-hour briquette relay, sharing and communicating with the students. "We hope that the event will provide a warm holiday season for those in need around us, and that the students will make memories of sharing warmth with the community," President Chang said.