<Rainbow Dream - January News and New Hopes for 2016>

The New Year has dawned. Looking back upon last year’s events, our organization Rainbow Dream had gone through some extensive changes.

Firstly, last January, we moved our office & counseling center to the officetel in Walgae-Dong, where we hold our Saturday school sessions. At first, we were worried about the monthly rents and increased management expenses of this new space. However, we realized and concluded that our organization members would benefit more from this change of space. Because our Saturday school program would take place in the same building where our office & counseling center is located, organization members would naturally be able to work under more convenient and efficient circumstances.

Also, last December, we have been able to finally complete and open our very own Social Cooperative - Rainbow Dream website after some months of preparation. Now we do not have to give lengthy explanations about our organization every single time when people ask about ‘who we are’ and ‘what we do.’ We can simply inform others of our website and encourage them to visit it, which will provide detailed information about our organization. This website is also accessible through mobile devices, and we are very proud that we have been able to make a high-quality website on a low budget.

On the basis of the aforementioned spatial efficiencies and network connection, our goal for 2016 is to improve the programs we provide so that they could include a much wider range of variety and helpful contents for multicultural families. And we would like to inform as many people as possible of what we do (our work and activities) through the Rainbow Dream website. Social Cooperative - Rainbow Dream has many volunteer groups built on the foundation of deep trust, groups with which we have worked together for six years. So, by sharing ideas with each other, we firmly believe that we would be able to come up with better contents and educational material, which will further benefit multicultural families.

This month (Januaury of 2016), starting from the 9th, we began a 3month long Saturday morning art therapy session (mothers’ class and children’s class) and we also held the Happymove mentoring party for our children on the 16th. The attendance rate has been exceptionally high for the past couple of months. Therefore, it was slightly difficult for volunteer workers to carry out and manage programs and educational activities. However, we fully understand that, at this time of year, parents and children alike feel the anxiety to prepare and study for school before schools begin on March.

Particularly, Su-bin and Jong-yeon, who left for Pohang two years ago with their parents, have returned and they are diligently participating in our art therapy sessions, piano lessons, and academic tutoring sessions (Korean, Math, and English). Also, Su-bin and Jong-yeon have received a donation of more than 30 children’s books during January, and their parents say that they are happily reading these books at home. We would like to say that these donated books are not just simply books to the children who receive them but a salve to their hearts and mind. Rainbow Dream gives a big thanks to all the donators! Thank you again for your love and support. ^^