Marianne & Margaret

The 4th Marianne and Margaret Volunteer Awards Ceremony was held at the Sharing Training Center. The Marianne and Margaret Volunteer Award was established in 2021 to carry on the noble spirit of the two nurses who served on Sorok Island for over 40 years. This year, in particular, marked the first year the award's status was elevated, with Vice Minister Ko Ki-dong of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety personally presenting the awards, adding to its value and significance. This year's Volunteer Award recipients included Jeong Chun-sil, Director of St. Teresa Clinic, who received the Presidential Citation in the nursing category, and the student club CCYP (President Shin Young-won) of Habitat for Humanity Korea, which received the Prime Minister's Citation in the volunteer category. Jeong Chun-sil, the recipient in the nursing category, was highly praised for her efforts in alleviating disease and hunger in the most marginalized regions of Africa, supporting the education of staff and students through fundraising activities in her home country, and nurturing them into professional workers, embodying the spirit of another Marianne and Margaret through sharing and volunteering. CCYP, the recipient in the volunteer category, is a club affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Korea, consisting of 27 universities and 4 high schools nationwide. It was recognized for its contributions to improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups through over 3,300 activities, including housing environment improvement, construction volunteering, mural painting, and educational mentoring, as well as donations exceeding 48 million won. In the 2nd Youth Hope Plus Contest, the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award went to Go Na-yeon from Wonhwa Girls' High School in Daegu and Gong Da-young from Jeonnam Girls' Commercial High School in Gwangju. The Jeollanam-do Governor's Award went to Lee Ru-ri from Goheung High School in Goheung and Yoon Ye-ji from Dongmyeong High School in Gwangju. The Goheung County Governor's Award went to Kim Beom from Dongmyeong High School in Gwangju, and the Marianne and Margaret Promotion Committee Chairman's Award went to Choi Hyun-ji from Suncheon Cheongam High School in Suncheon. The ceremony also featured congratulatory videos from Klaus Pissarek, Margaret's nephew, and Palka Gusberger, the dean of the nursing college from which Marianne and Margaret graduated, commemorating the first anniversary of Margaret's passing. The achievements of the Volunteer Award recipients and the youth essay contest works were produced into videos, moving the attendees. Chairman Kim Yeon-jun of the Memorial Project Promotion Committee, in his greeting, expressed his commitment to preserving and managing the cultural heritage and relics left by Marianne and Margaret as a legacy to be shared not only domestically but also globally. He also pledged to continue spreading their positive influence and conveying their spirit to many people. Gong Young-min, the Mayor of Goheung County, in his welcoming speech, stated that with the elevation of the award's status, it has become a more prestigious and valuable award. He promised to continue discovering excellent volunteers and spreading their positive influence. Moon Geum-ju, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, conveyed his heartfelt congratulations and deep respect to the two award recipients in his congratulatory message. The ceremony was graced by congratulatory speeches from Vice Minister Ko Ki-dong of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik (Chairman of the Hoam Foundation), Myung Chang-hwan, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs, Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Ryu Je-dong, Chairman of the Goheung County Council, and Tak Young-ran, President of the Korean Nurses Association. The event was attended by over 250 people, including Lee Soon-ok, President of the Korean Midwives Association, and Noh Seung-han, Chairman of the Sorokdo Residents' Autonomy Association, adding to the occasion's significance. As a congratulatory performance, Shin Jin-soon, a poet from Naro Island in Goheung and winner of the 2024 Sihyang Literature Award, recited "Sorokdo Little Grandma Margaret," inspired by the lives of Marianne and Margaret. Additionally, a student from Seoul Science High School, who won the youth contest initiated last year, composed and his father (Ban Deok-jin) wrote the lyrics for the songs "Sorokdo Grandma Angel" and "My Way" for Marianne and Margaret. These were performed by vocalist Oh Yo-hwan, further enhancing the ceremony's significance. It was a meaningful occasion that instilled the true meaning of service and sharing in the hearts of many. *Our foundation's board members also attended and assisted in preparing meals for 120 people in the kitchen. The family and board members of the foundation, who are on this journey together, remembered Margaret's passing around this time last year and offered gratitude and respect to Grandma Margaret, who would be watching from heaven.