Global Volunteer Activities and Cultural Exchanges by ASEZ, ASEZ WAO, and Headquarters in Summer 2023

At the end of July, a total of about 920 members, including the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] members, ASEZ WAO members, and the workers for the Headquarters of the Church of God went to 117 cities in 49 countries in order to preach the holy love of God Elohim and the gospel of the new covenant to people around the world and to share culture with local people. By using their vacations and time off, they carried out various volunteer activities and shared culture in many parts of the world for one to three weeks.

ASEZ Taking a Step to Create a Better World

ASEZ members carried out projects such as Reduce Crime Together [RCT] program in each country, sharing their experiences in Korea with local members and citizens, which gave positive energy to them.

Many educational institutions such as Curro Academy Wilgeheuwel High School in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Shining Smiles Group Of Schools in Harare, Zimbabwe, held the RCT School, a crime prevention character education program. Giving presentations and making business cards, the members helped the students form correct self-identity and grow into responsible citizens who respect others.

In order to create a clean and safe environment, they examined vulnerability to crime in various parts of each city and volunteered to improve the environment. They cleaned the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand, and planted about 250 trees around the Nacional Canal in Mexico City, Mexico. In Las Piñas, the Philippines, they received a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Environment of Imus for collecting two metric tons of trash, which had not been taken care of for a long time, on the streets near the Imus Campus of Cavite State University. Fiona Sacks, Deputy Mayor of Richmond upon Thames participated in the cleanup of Richmond Green Park in London, U.K., and said, “You give a great inspiration to young people to protect the environment. If everyone participates in ASEZ, we will be able to change not only the United Kingdom but also the whole world.”

The members also actively carried out the ASEZ Blue Carbon [ABC] Movement, which contributes to achieving carbon neutrality by increasing carbon absorption by conserving the marine ecosystems. In partnership with local governments, they cleaned the Ocean Beach Park in New London, Connecticut, U.S., and the Teluk Likas Beach in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, to remove wastes and plastics, which are the main pollutants of the marine ecosystems. They also held campaigns and seminars to raise awareness of blue carbon. Chris Gonsalves, a student who attended the seminar held at Wilson College in Mumbai, India, said, “I learned how human beings affect the environment. I will put into practice the solutions I learned today for the environment.”

One of ASEZ’s achievements was to obtain more opportunities for future activities by holding conferences and establishing partnerships with government agencies and international organizations. They signed a memorandum of understanding [MOU] with Norwalk Municipality, Connecticut, U.S., and Tshwane Municipality, South Africa. Many figures such as Lim Ki-tack the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Zósimo Cárdenas Muje the Governor of Junin of Peru, and Christine Conley the Congressmember from Connecticut, U.S., signed MOUs and supported the activities carried out by ASEZ. Lim Ki-tack, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, expressed his support and encouragement, saying, “ASEZ is well aware of the world’s pending issue and has detailed action plans.”

Park Soo-jin (Department of Electrical Engineering at Pusan National University, Korea), a member who visited Zimbabwe, said, “It was rewarding to visit places that actually needed help and volunteer for the residents. I’d like to do more volunteer activities related to my major in the future.” Kim Ye-eun (Department of Service Management at Hanyang Women’s University), who visited Brazil, said, “I learned how to embrace different cultures, experiencing a variety of people and environments. I want to lead people around the world in a good direction by offering a helping hand without hesitation wherever help is needed.”

ASEZ WAO Keeping the Earth Green and Healthy

ASEZ WAO carries out diverse volunteer services such as welfare promotion, emergency relief, and environmental protection under the umbrella of “Campaigns For US” and “Campaigns For EARTH.” This summer, ASEZ WAO members went overseas and carried out diverse environmental protection activities, along with volunteering at nursing homes and orphanages.

In Semarang, Indonesia, they cleaned Jalan Perumahan Indah Street in Senjoyo in cooperation with Dong Semarang District Office and Bugangan District Office. They also cleaned the area around Xochimilco City Hall in Mexico City, Mexico, to raise public awareness of environmental protection. The Blue Ocean Project that they carried out along the Blanco River in Hays County, Texas, U.S., the Bokmakierie Canal in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Negombo Beach in Sri Lanka, drew attention as the news of the project was reported by local media outlets. Councilor Rashid Adams, who participated in the cleanup for the Bokmakierie Canel, said, “The members look so bright. I hope that they will awaken our young adults and change the community by exerting a positive influence through their constant activities.”

In the Tuul River area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the members enthusiastically cleaned up despite a sudden heavy rain and collected a metric ton of waste, including disposable plastic cups and tires. The local media outlets commented that it was a timely volunteer service at a time when the shortage of drinking water intensified due to water pollution in the city center, and the Mongolian Ministry of Environment presented a citation to ASEZ WAO. In Panama City, Panama, they carried out cleanup as part of the No More GPGP Project (for reducing plastic usages) in El Florista Park on Cinta Costera Beach, a famous tourist destination, together with the Ministry of Environment. This cleanup led to the signing of an MOU with the Ministry of Oceans. In Baguio, the Philippines, 200 trees were planted in the Wright Park as part of Mother’s Forest Project in cooperation with Baguio Municipality and the City Police.

The members visited institutions such as the Ministry of Environment of Namibia, the Philippines National Congress, and the Puebla State Autonomous University [BUAP] Hospital in Mexico, meeting with important figures, and expanded ASEZ WAO’s partnership by signing MOUs and supporting signatures. People from all walks of life paid attention to the projects that these young adults put into practice for the earth and expressed their support.

ASEZ WAO’s Environmental Talk Concert was also an opportunity to strengthen solidarity for environmental protection and raise environmental awareness. At the event held at the University of Malaya, Malaysia, more than 160 people, including officials from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, CEOs of companies, professors, and local residents, attended and discussed on how to cope with climate change. The Talk Concert with the same topic was held in Puebla, Mexico, and aroused the interest of citizens.

Lee Na-yeon (from Incheon, Kora), a member who visited Indonesia, said, “I heard that we were the first ones to volunteer to clean up Semarang. We shared the joy of volunteering by cleaning the streets and our hearts as well.” Yun Seon-kyung (from Gunpo, Korea) said, “We were worried about how to lead people to understand and participate in the environmental activities in the United States because they used so many disposable items in everyday life. However, when we shared our goal, we became one-minded.”

World Mission Society Church of God Headquarters
Contributing to the Development of the Gospel Through Unity

The Headquarters of World Mission Society Church of God is the representative organization of the Church and plays a pivotal role in leading the world evangelism. It helps all the members around the world have the true faith, by carrying out a wide range of tasks such as training and dispatching pastoral staff, supporting the operation of churches throughout the world, educating members, producing publications and videos, and planning social contribution activities.

The Headquarters members working in various departments flew to the world during their summer vacation and supported the gospel in local regions all over the world. They actively communicated with the pastoral staff in the overseas churches, thought about how to support their gospel work in the future, and united with the local members for the development of the gospel. They held events such as Bible seminars and Korean culture experience to interact with local residents, and carried out volunteer services for local communities such as environmental cleanups. Deaconess Nam Hye-kyung (from Melbourne, Australia) said, “The Korean culture experience event was a way to unite with our neighbors through the love of Korea and Zion.” She also said that she would continue to carry out the activities that deliver happiness to the neighbors in her community.

The Church of God makes efforts for evangelism and volunteer services with 7,500 churches around the world. It also contributes to the unity of the global village through sharing cultures. The members will more actively share the love of God Elohim and spread a good culture across borders, cultures, and languages.

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