Helping at a Refugee Camp in France

By Korea News Group (Originally in Korean)

When a group of our Korean Association members were in Paris to promote veganism during COP 21, also known as the Paris 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, we took the opportunity to visit the Grand-Synth refugee camp in Dunkirk in northern France on December 6. There, we joined about 20 other Association members from different countries, including Canada, Germany, Finland, Formosa, France and the United States, who were providing relief aid to the refugees in response to Master’s loving instruction. Together, we prepared a variety of vegan foods, such as rice, noodles, muffins, fruits and drinking water, for 1,000 people. For children, we brought special gifts including cookies, chocolate and stationery. The fund of EUR 4,500 (US$4,894) for this relief work was provided by our United States Association members.

The camp has about 2,000 refugees, many of them children, and is equipped with basic facilities. Everyone loved the vegan food, and some brought food back to the tents for the women who had to stay with their children. While distributing the food, we silently prayed to God that the refugees would keep their courage.

One of our elderly members felt great sympathy for the refugees, as she had experienced a time of military conflict in her country, and had a personal understanding of their situation. We sincerely wish for peace in all nations, so that no one will have to go through such hardship again.

Our deep gratitude to Master for the opportunity to assist our brothers and sisters in need. We also sincerely thank the French government for helping the refugees.

Expenditures By The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association For Refugee Relief Work in Grand-Synth, France, December 6, 2015