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Mannam Volunteer Association?

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Maureen:
Hi Everyone
I was wondering if anyone ever heard of this group called Mannam Volunteer Association? I met a very random person that invited me to their meeting at a local cafe.

Cheers

aldritg:
I have.  It's a good organization.  They offer several free classes for expats (photography, korean cooking, language) and are involved in a lot of community work.  I know specifically they volunteer at orphanages from time to time.  I'm sure they are involved in more, but I'm not in the loop about it all.  Also, for Thanksgiving they bought some turkeys and had a big potluck for all the homesick foreigners.  I'd say its a great org to get involved with if you have some free time.

Rootleaf:
I checked out their Korean Independence Day event back in August, which was very well organized and a lot of fun. They seem to have a solid foundation with both Koreans and foreigners, and not just Westerners either. It's good to see more involved participation from people of a lot of the other nations that Koreans seem to overlook.

However, I was a bit put off by their political stances, which wouldn't have been a problem if they were so blatant about it. At the event there was a strained play that dramatized the unification of the North and South as all rosey and spectacular. The way they so transparently pandered to emotions kind of bothered me. From what I gathered, they tout themselves as being foreigner friendly but almost to a condescending level. Just first impressions though, and I think that they're doing good overall.

leejs:

--- Quote from: Rootleaf on December 02, 2011, 11:12:36 AM ---I checked out their Korean Independence Day event back in August, which was very well organized and a lot of fun. They seem to have a solid foundation with both Koreans and foreigners, and not just Westerners either. It's good to see more involved participation from people of a lot of the other nations that Koreans seem to overlook.

However, I was a bit put off by their political stances, which wouldn't have been a problem if they were so blatant about it. At the event there was a strained play that dramatized the unification of the North and South as all rosey and spectacular. The way they so transparently pandered to emotions kind of bothered me. From what I gathered, they tout themselves as being foreigner friendly but almost to a condescending level. Just first impressions though, and I think that they're doing good overall.

--- End quote ---

For an international volunteer organization I was also a bit put off by the anti-Japanese racism at their Independence Day festival. They had a place where you could get your photo taken being hanged by Japanese soldiers or in a torture-like device in a prison cage and all of it was presided over by racist Japanese stereotypes. I get that the Japanese did some horrible things in the conquered territories, but you'd think after 70 years maybe put it behind you for one day and just celebrate independence.

That being said the people in the organization seemed very nice, if a little too preachy about how great their organization was.

ac3824a:
I recently attended a volunteer event through Mannam.  The organization claims to have no religious ties, but I've heard rumors that it has a christian backer that may possibly be a cult.   
Anyone know if these rumors could possibly be true?  Or is it just an innocent volunteer org for foreigners?

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