Babsang Community and Coal Briquette Bank, sharing activities for 16 years in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

(Wonju = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Bo-yeon = Babsang Community and Coal Briquette Bank have continued private sharing in Central Asia for 16 years, delivering the warmth of their homeland to Koryo people, the energy vulnerable, and descendants of independence fighters.

Nine volunteer members, including CEO Gi-bok Heo and public relations ambassador Jeong Ae-ri, visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for 7 days and 6 nights from the 7th to the 13th and announced that they provided 850 tons of coal to 800 Korean and low-income families and vulnerable welfare facilities.

The total amount of support, including two village buses and free meal expenses, is worth 158 million won.

In Ushtobe, Kazakhstan, 250 tons of coal were delivered to 250 Korean and energy-vulnerable families, and 10 million won in free meal expenses were also provided for elderly Koreans and others, laying the foundation for local meal support.

In the future, the Briquette Bank also plans to establish a 'Kazak Food Community' in Kazakhstan to provide continuous feeding and care.

At the site, we visited the home of Ludmila, a Korean woman celebrating her 90th birthday next week, and provided 3 tons of coal separately.

He, who moved from Russia's Maritime Province to Central Asia when he was about one year old, said, "I don't want to become rich. I just want to not be cold in the winter."

The 77-year-old Itamara expressed his gratitude by handing the hat he had worn his whole life and the bread he had prepared with his own hands to the volunteer group.

In Almaty, I met Aigerim, the daughter of Marat Ivanov, the great-grandson of Lee Dong-hwi of Sungjae, and Oksana Ten, the great-granddaughter of Armed Forces General Min Geung-ho and the mother of the late figure skater Denis Ten.

Oksana Ten was presented with a personal letter from Wonju Mayor Koo Ja-yeol, a photo album from the gravesite of Righteous Army Chief Min Geung-ho, and a commemorative frame.

Oksana Ten said, “I always keep in mind that I am a descendant of ancestors who fought for the independence of my country, and I try to live up to that meaning,” and added, “It is a very special and grateful thing to remember and honor the descendants of independence fighters.”

The Briquette Bank decided to provide energy costs of 1.5 million won to two families of descendants of Dr. Lee Dong-hwi and righteous army chief Min Geung-ho, as well as a set of cutlery and cutlery to show that they will be together as family members, and to support energy costs for three months in the winter every year for the next five years.

In Kyrgyzstan, we met Heo Vladislav, the grandson of Wangsan Wiwi, the leader of the anti-Japanese volunteer army, and delivered transportation expenses and gifts.

The volunteer group also met with Vice Minister of Labor, Social Security and Immigration Bygonchokov and discussed ways to support vulnerable groups and cooperate with private welfare.

In addition, 550 tons of coal were provided to 550 Koryoin and low-income families in Orgochor and other areas, and 50 tons were provided to vulnerable welfare facilities such as facilities for the disabled.

The amount of support that the Briquette Bank has provided to Kyrgyzstan so far amounts to approximately 1.3 billion won, and it was also introduced that CEO Heo was appointed as an honorary citizen of Issyk-Kul Province and received a medal for his contribution to supporting the underprivileged.

Two 25-seat buses were delivered to Kurgak-Irk and Karagz villages.

The bus will be used to transport children to and from hospitals and markets.

Children in Kurgak Irk had to travel to school about 8km away along a dirt road.

Briquette Bank has been supporting Central Asian Koryo people and vulnerable groups for 16 years based purely on private sponsorship and volunteer work.

CEO Ki-bok Heo said, "We came to deliver rice, coal, and buses, but we returned with even greater love and emotion from the local residents. We will continue to convey the warmth of our homeland and the heart that Korea has not forgotten to the Koryoin elders."