Going Out To Seoul Grand Park With the Disabled Friends

"Thank you very much" The disabled kids' big smile

 "I was surprised at seals' loud roaring because it is much louder than expected."

At afternoon of July 27, the first grade physically-impaired Go Han-min, 16, showed his incessant curiosity while seeing giraffes, rhinoceroses, peacocks, and the like at Seoul Grand Park, Gwacheon city, Gyeonggi province.

The 15 disabled including Go, who are being cared by Seoul Gabriel, enjoyed the wonderful day with 20 colleges students who took part in the Third College Students' Service Day. The Citizens United for Better Society (CUBS) organized this event with the support of Kookmin Ilbo and Samsung Life Insurance.

Lee Ki-bok, 14, the second grade mentally-impaired, held hands with Chon Ye-eu, 21, sophomore in Catholic University and asked Chon, "What is the name of birds over there?" and "What do they eat?"

"Even though Kim Chang-min, 40, suffering from visual impairment and autism, is not able to speak, Kim seems to be very happy thanks to this going out," said a staff member of the Gabriel. Kang Dong-yun, 8, the second grade visually-impaired, kept saying, "Hi", "Let's go". This is the word Kang says when he is in good mood.

The majority participating this event has the serious level of disability, either the first or second grade. 8 out of all 15 participants are able to move only via wheelchair, and, some have even multi-impairments like autism.

Im Ae-kyeong, a teacher of the Gabriel, said, "Since most of them have very serious level of disability and various types, it is almost impossible to go outside without assistants to each individual."

The college students took part in this event via the notice of the Internet. Um Chae-eun, 21, an education major of Korea University, said, "I decided to join this event because I have been always interested in special education," adding, "Even though it is difficult to make a perfect communication with them, I do not think it is labor to me especially when I find their face expression seem to get better with my help paying off."

Lee Ju-yeon, 22, a student of natural science department of Sogang University, who participated in 2002 too, said, "While hanging out with them for a while, I cannot tell the differences from ordinary kids. Instead, I feel more love with them because they still have clear innocence."

Chon Mi-ra, a head of team that prepared this event in CUBS, said, "It is not easy to take them out due to concern over their safety. Thus, we prepared this event in order to give them an opportunity to go outside during vacation."