Meal Time Filled With Love

In summer, 2019, we carried out free meal service in Saitama, Japan, as part of the activities of the ASEZ WAO—the Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group We volunteered to help a cafeteria that provided free meals to children who could not afford to eat properly for various reasons. Although it was not easy to work in the kitchen in the boiling hot weather, we joyfully rolled up our sleeves, imagining the children would enjoy the meals. Thinking that it would be good to make happy memories, we also wholeheartedly arranged traditional Korean folk games and snacks.

On the day we were supposed to volunteer, we had to make some changes in our plan due to an unexpected situation in the kitchen, but we greeted the kitchen staff with bright smiles and carried out our changed plan. As the meal time was approaching, children came into the cafeteria one after another. We helped with distributing food to the children, and encouraged them to experience Korean culture after they finished their meal. They had much fun, trying on Hanbok [Korean traditional clothing] and played a top-spinning game. Their parents or guardians, who visited the cafeteria, also spent joyful time, taking photos of the children. When we finished our volunteer work, the cafeteria manager and expediter came to us and thanked us for working hard despite the hot weather.

On our way back home, our whole body was wet with sweat as if we had a shower. Even so, we were all smiles; our hearts were filled with happiness as we imagined how happy a mother would be when watching her children enjoy the food that she made wholeheartedly and play joyfully without any worries.