The post Solidarity Hands: Women’s Group Helps Families in Paraguay appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

The post Children’s Day Celebrations Promote Education, Safe Communities, and Strong Families in Nigeria appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

The post Family Festival Brings Community Together in Brazil appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

The Korean term uri (“우리”) is indicative of a sense of oneness or family with others. Koreans in the North and South probably use the word uri millions of times throughout their lives. Uri (“우리”) is found left and right, in nearly every circumstance in Korean society— uri Nara, uri jeep, uri omma (Our Nation, our home, our mother). Each time the word uri is used, it expresses a shared connectedness as part of the Korean extended family.

Korea is referred to as “our nation” by Koreans.

A closer look at the meaning of “uri” serves as a powerful reminder that Koreans are meant to live together, as one family.

In the grammatical sense, uri is the informal first person plural pronoun in the Korean language. It is dominantly used for possessives and literally translated as “us”, “our” or “we”. However, uri is also commonly used in place of the possessive “my”. Uri is a ubiquitous Korean concept signifying community and unity.

What is particularly interesting about this Korean word is that even when talking to someone who is clearly not part of your immediate family, Koreans still use this linguistic terminology as if you are.

In the western world, it would be regarded as somewhat odd if a stranger referred to her mom as “our mother.” There is something here that goes much deeper into the mindset of the Korean culture.

It’s interesting to contrast this concept of the Korean uri with the Western understanding of the relationship between the self and a larger whole. According to Maday and Szalay (cited in Kim & Choi, 1994), it was found that the first associations with the word “me” were “family” and “love” for Koreans. In contrast, the first word associated with the word “me” was “I, person individual” for Americans.

Volunteers taking their “grandmother” out for a walk on the town.

The differences that emerge out of these first cultural concepts are striking. Koreans view themselves as blending into their family, whereas people in the United States or other Western countries fundamentally view themselves as separate from others, including that of their family. Here we see the influence of individualism of the Western world underlying the all-important “self” above all else.

This concept of boundaries also seems to relate directly to the Korean sense of personal space. Whether it is an elder Korean women rushing to cut in line in a crowded supermarket or when you squished together on public transportation, the sense of personal space in Korea seems virtually non-existent. Where this offends or discomfits most Westerners in Korea, Koreans themselves have no concept of invading another’s space, because it is understood that space belongs to everyone.

In the book, The Conceptual Self in Context: Culture Experience Self Understanding, the authors explore how one’s sense of self is rooted in the larger society’s values and principles.

The Korean way of relating to others includes an assumption that “what is good for the group is also good for the self, which by definition is ‘a part’ of the group” (Koenig, 2010). There is specific research from the 1990s supporting the notion that Koreans have a strong emphasis on others and family, suggesting that “rather than being conceived and experienced as separate entities, selves are lived as relational parts of a greater whole”. This would explain why there is such a strong sense of a common group in Korean society.

An abstract depiction of “uri jeep“, our home, in downtown Seoul, and the logo for “Woori Bank”, our bank, in the background.

This consciousness of the collective self that is embodied in the word “uri” is most aptly expressed in the Korean extended family. In traditions such as the annual autumn celebration of “Chuseok,” where families gather together to honor their ancestors, family members are reminded that their lives benefit not just the current generation, but of generations past, present and future, and not just their immediate family, but their extended family, spanning to their clans, nation and even the world.

It is this collective consciousness that has enabled the Korean people to weather some of the hardest times in their history, including the Korean War. In tough times, the Korean people stuck together, relying on each other because life literally depended upon it.

As the Korean people stand at another crossroads in their history, the word “uri” serves as a reminder we possess a common destiny, and that each one of us, and every family, has a part to play in building a nation that would benefit not only our immediate family, but our world family.

Last updated 2018/09/25

The post 우리(Uri) – The Korean Notion of the Collective Self appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

“Peace begins in the home because it is where we learn to trust, respect, and work together with members of our human family. The warm and nurturing family environment that women create is the model for the peaceful world of One Family under God.” – Dr. Jun Sook Moon, Global Peace Convention 2017

Tanzanian mother participate in an education program hosted by Global Peace Foundation

A young Tanzanian mother sat at her desk, balancing a pencil in one hand and her precious wiggling baby in the other. She carefully transcribed the numbers and letters that volunteer teachers pointed to on the classroom blackboard.

Other children scurry down the aisles, weaving between their mothers and fathers and other students.

This classroom and others like it are a part of Global Peace Foundations’ efforts to empower girls and women of all ages. In the safe environment, the women and girls are encouraged to advance their leadership capacities within their families and communities.  Classes cover subjects like English literacy and hygiene.

A common thread binds these students: their motivation.  Most of them attend classes as parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and are driven to become better for their families.

The programs remind participants, particularly parents, that one of the most important leadership positions they hold is in their families. This is where they start as change makers in their society. From the family, they can positively impact the emotional and spiritual foundations of each family member. They can cultivate essential virtues like perseverance, dedication to the community, and integrity, and to inspire future generations with the vision to be moral and innovative people who can contribute to their world.

A classroom full of mothers and sisters in Tanzania.

The classrooms focus on the innate value of each individual and their unique contribution to building healthy families as the foundation of healthy societies.

The workshops uplift not position, wealth, or power as measures of leadership and success, but essential and important qualities that women bring to the table that make them natural and powerful leaders in their family. These qualities also bring value to their community, school, workplace, and government.

The program is an offshoot of a leadership academy that is raising young Tanzanian women who are energizing the movement to help families and communities recognize the unique value and vital role of women.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national and regional peace-building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation

The post Empowering Women Leadership in Tanzania from the Home to Community appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

The Role of Family in Peace

Original post from March 12, 2015. Updated on April 5, 2018.

Family metaphors are frequently used to express a remarkable closeness or intimacy between people. Sayings such as, “he’s like a brother to me” or, “they’re like family” signifies a unique bond that people often feel no need to explain. Familial relationships are undoubtedly important – to individuals, to families themselves and then to their respective communities. We might then infer that as the core units that make up society, each and every family is equally important to the health of nations and, subsequently, the whole world.

Dr. Jun Sook Moon reads to children at a family shelter in Korea.

Families have been the “default” mode of human organization throughout history. The reason for this is both simple and self-evident. It is because life begins in the family. When we are born into this world, what constitutes our world is the family – in infancy, childhood and into adulthood. It is not too much to say that the people we become is largely due to the relationships we experience in our family. Who each of us is, where we come from, starts in the family.

Moreover, life continues because families do. We would do best to remember the inimitable role that the family plays in the health of individuals, the strength of our communities and happiness of society. Many or most countries measure progress and prosperity in terms of GDP and recently there have been attempts to objectively measure happiness. Yet, these indices fail to connect the health and prosperity of individuals and society with its roots in the family.

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is the same reason thinkers from Plato to Max Weber have lamented the strength of familial and kinship ties. In their view, societies notable for strong familial and kinship ties also tend towards things like cronyism, corruption and nepotism, where families act for the good of only their own.

In fact, it is rare to see people treat others as one would treat one’s own family. Many even debate the possibility of true altruism. Skeptics view altruism as simply another way to benefit one’s group since service is usually based on some sense of shared identity – a common religion, a sense of ethnic, national, political or economic ties. It is what makes charity to those who are completely different from oneself so exceptional.

Whatever the case, as humans we base our relationships on some notion of identity. While the concept of “identity-based conflict” is still fairly new, it is in fact the age-old drama of the human family. We fight for our family against other families, tribes and nations. We fight against the other. We try to protect the businesses and interests of some against others. We even die to protect some against others.

For this and so many other reasons, we must be forced to re-examine our very identity and nature.

And it is for this reason that the Global Peace Foundation starts first with an all-encompassing vision of “One Family Under God.” It is this kind of inclusive framework that starts from what we already instinctively know – a sense of what family should or could be – and work to extend out that instinctive, emotional bond outwards towards others. It is in this space of imagining ourselves as part of a greater human family that we can begin to imagine a world of peace and shared prosperity. From there, we work to “activate” our highest shared values and aspirations – love, kindness, service, benevolence, integrity, etc. as the ultimate expressions of a global human family.

By focusing on people rather than interventions – our solutions become holistic because people are able to account for the dynamic interactions of everyday life in a way that interventions never could. Instead of a focus on tasks, we encourage and empower people to “own” the vision and make it a reality in his or her own unique way. Through the years, we have developed a process framework to do this on the local level and then to connect and share lessons and best practices with a wide, multi-sectoral network of moral, innovative leaders.

Why Korea?

On the Korean peninsula, we see a fascinating case in which one people, or family, has been divided – by time, space, ideology, economic and social systems – for now over 70 years. In fact, today, there are debates as to whether Koreans in the North and the South can be considered one people because of all of their differences.

We believe that this becomes as a microcosm of the global family in that, as some view North and South Koreans as completely separate, we see differences between peoples – in terms of language, culture, custom, religion, traditions – to assume that we are too different to be together. And yet, time and time again, there will always be interaction after interaction that tells us, as in the prophetic words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Together we must learn to live as brothers or together we will be forced to perish as fools.”

Even apart from the human rights issues and nuclear crisis in the North and social, economic and political crises in the South, Koreans and their friends have an opportunity to demonstrate a process of civil-society led nation-building in such a way that provides lessons for the entire global community. The process has already essentially started with the over 900 civil society organizations currently working as part of the Action for Korea United initiative in Korea.

We turn next to the global community to engage in this process to support and learn the lessons of building peace and social cohesion and with it, inspirations for global development and shared prosperity.

The post The Role of Family in Peace appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

A parent shamelessly calls in sick to an employer on behalf of their – ostensibly –  adult child, another accompanies their child to graduate school interviews. These and other stories illustrate the concepts of “helicopter” or “hothouse parenting”. Although they are anecdotal, they reflect a shift in attitudes and behaviors towards the act of raising children over the last two decades.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The former editor-in-chief and editor-at-large of Psychology Today, Hara Estroff Marano, writes:

“Having had—or been allowed to have—few disappointments in their overparented, overtrophied lives, many have not learned to handle difficulty. In the absence of skills to dispel disappointment, difficulty becomes catastrophe.”

In The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Luke Kianoff surmise that the root of this phenomenon of “hothouse children” is a result of “a consistent message from adults: life is dangerous, but adults will do everything in their power to protect you from harm, not just from strangers but from one another as well.”

These hothouse children are “overparented” and these phenomena may have at one point been motivated by his or her parents’ care and concern. Yet while the danger of this kind of parenting may not be immediately obvious, we see the impact of the idea in children that are fragile, weak and unable to make his or her own choices. Most alarming is the idea that children are buy into this and expect coddling as a right to which he or she is entitled.

Though the desire to protect and help one’s child to succeed is natural, taking away opportunities for children to grow and to gain a sense of independence and develop skills to deal with the difficulties that will inevitably follow, it is to the detriment of individual children as well as society as a whole.

***

In stark contrast to this sort of view, a principal of a small kindergarten in the western edge of Tokyo explained, “Every child is strong; strength comes from within. So we have to step back and question if what we’re doing is for the good of the child or the convenience of the parent.”

The principal encourages parents to set clear limits and then to step back to let children learn and grow. The “education for the future” program in his school is designed with the idea that education needs to consider the long-term needs of the children. Within clearly defined boundaries, children are encouraged to play and to find answers for themselves.

“I want to consider what kind of adult the child will become… that the education each child receives here will help them to know that they are strong and help them to become responsible citizens.”

***

Parenting and education need to be for the sake of the child as well as for the good of society. Families can directly contribute to the health of a nation by raising strong, virtuous, and interdependent adults capable of making good choices and motivated to serve the greater good.

Schools can support this kind of education but as the primary locus of learning and self-understanding, the family must take a greater role in leading us back to education that prepares children for the future.

The post Education for the Future appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

An uninhabited village on the western coast of the Korean peninsula lies squarely on the Demilitarized Zone. The Joint Security Area is located in this village, used until recently by the United Nations to host negotiations between North and South Korea. North and South soldiers stand-off in an uneasy staring match, epitomizing the longstanding stalemate.

Panmunjeom is also a popular tourist site, being one of the only places where you can stare at a North Korean soldier and “step across” into the North.

One might anticipate feeling something different when crossing the border, just like the feeling one gets when disembarking at a foreign airport. But, surprisingly stepping across isn’t so different. When straddling across the DMZ on realizes that both sides are Korea, the people on both sides are literally of the same family. They share a common cultural heritage, language and thousands of years of history but have been torn apart by ideological differences.

Yet, the danger that lurks on either side of the line is real. Soldiers with machine guns stand on either side, daring the other to make the first move.

However, these borders are manmade. Across the border there is lots of exchange. The DMZ has become a wildlife preserve, where bears, goats, and bobcats roam across between the two Koreas. Birds fly overhead, defying the boundaries defended by watch towers, missiles and guns.

Human beings are the only creatures who create threatening boundaries to protect what they imagine to be their own and to keep “Others” out.

Perhaps there is something that can be learned from these animals that refuse to be contained by artificial boundaries. Perhaps its time to “tear down these walls” that have kept the greater Korean family from each other.

The post Panmunjeom appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Through service, everyone becomes a catalyst for building connections and collectively generating solutions. The timeless ethic of serving others engages everyone, both foreign and local, in the process of building better and more sustainable families, communities and nations.” -Dr. Hyun Jin Moon on the power of service

Rise Nepal volunteer delivering aid to remote villages in need.

Soon after the 7.8 richter scale earthquake shook the foundations of Nepal on April 25, Global Peace Foundation International President James Flynn issued a call to action, “Now is an important time to demonstrate our concern for all in our human family, by responding quickly with disaster relief, but also by committing our support to the people of Nepal for their long-term recovery.”

More than a month has passed, and a story is emerging– from relief workers, to local volunteers like the Global Peace Foundation supported #RiseNepal team that has enlisted the efforts of more than 800 individuals,  of an ongoing commitment to Nepal’s rapid and sustainable recovery as One Family Under God.

A blog published on the Global Peace Foundation reflects:

“In trying times of conflict and natural disasters, the human spirit can be challenged and pushed to its limits.  But through these challenges we are also able to witness the power of the human spirit and reconfirm that we are indeed connected as one family.

Inspiring examples include the #RiseNepal volunteers who bravely and selflessly work to rebuild their nation from the devastation of the April 25th earthquake. Their efforts and the support coming from all over the world, affirm a truth that  when we come together, we can find solutions.

I remember seeing a photo of a 4 month old infant being pulled out of the debris that surfaced just days after the first earthquake. The smiles on the recue workers’ faces and the smile that spread across my own face when I read the story confirmed that we share in the moments of grief and joy across perceived boundaries.

Such moments remind us of our connectedness.  We don’t need a common language, nationality, or even religion to share in these moments, we just naturally respond.  We are moved by actions that acknowledge the preciousness of each life, and we are inspired when we witness individuals coming together to serve the greater good.”

Candle vigils in Nepal and New Zealand, and messages of hope and encouragement have come from around the world to express the solidarity of our human family.

There is an emptiness for loved ones who have passed and trauma from sudden devastation, but Nepal is rebuilding. At the end of May, Nepal officially reopened schools, establishing sense of normalcy for students.

There are still many challenges ahead such as the rush to deliver basic supplies to remote regions and provide shelter for displaced families before the impending monsoon season, but the world remains committed and inspired.

#RiseNepal, a volunteer effort supported by the Global Peace Foundation and other members of the Asia Pacific Peace and Development Alliance, has launched the “Shelter of Hope” campaign to provide 1,000 shelters for displaced families in Nepal before monsoon season. $120 purchases materials for 1 shelter. Donate today.

For the full original blog visit: www.globalpeace.org

The post Serving Nepal as One Family Under God appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

RiseNepal Volunteers, supported by the Global Peace Foundation, members of the Asia Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance and and United Kingdom NGO Byond, raise a transitional shelter in Kathmandu for victims of the April 25 earthquake that hit central Nepal.

The idea of service has steadily gained ground around the world. While the specific nature, purpose and efficacy of the various non-governmental organizations differ, we might infer that the rise of these civil service organizations represents the importance people place in the value of service to others.

In 2012 in the U.S. alone there were approximately 1.5 million NGOs. In 2010 in India, a country with a population of 1.5 billion, there seemed to be more than 3.3 million NGOs, equaling roughly 1 NGO for every 400 people. In Russia, despite governmental restrictions on NGOs, there was a reported quarter million entities registered in the country in 2008.

Yet, without taking away the tremendous good that they might bring through their respective work, are these solutions headed in the right direction? Is there something that they are working towards that does more than provide a service or fill a need?

These are the kinds of questions we must ask ourselves as people who are working to alleviate poverty, address environmental degradation or serve the sick and the needy; addressing a myriad of challenges that we face as a global community.

In a speech many years ago to a crowd of Service for Peace volunteers, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon challenged the audience to think about service differently, asking:

When you see a homeless man on the street and you don’t know him, you most likely will pass him by without a thought. Or, if perhaps you do know him, or you’ve seen him enough to be familiar – you might think to stop and help him out – to give some money or food or offer some assistance. But what would you do if you stop and see that this homeless man is your brother?

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon addresses the importance of youth and service with volunteers at an environmental clean-up near Kathmandu, Nepal in 2010.

This question gave everyone in the audience pause and it is one that we still need to ask ourselves today.

In a similar vein, this provocative social science experiment asked us to think differently about those who are homeless:

Would You Notice Your Own Family If They Were Homeless?

The vision of ‘One Family Under God’ challenges us to engage in something as seemingly simple as service, differently – as it challenges us to do much of everything we do in life differently. It asks us, how would you approach this need differently if we are, in fact, one family under God? Do we give a man a fish to feed him for a day? Would we do the same if the person was our child, our brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother or grandfather?

In ‘One Family Under God’, the natural dynamic of society would be service for one another and for the greater good. Hence, if we serve because we are family, the next question is how can our service transform our current reality into a world of ‘One Family Under God’?

The post We Serve Because We Are Family appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.