When ChildFund called to tell me I had won the Trip of a Lifetime competition, I felt so many emotions all at once: surprise, happiness, amazement and utter terror.
My husband, Roxley, and I had only recently started travelling. Like all parents, our lives had been dedicated to our kids but with them both in university we were beginning to set our horizons abroad. Yet, India was a whole new frontier for us!
We booked a two-week trip to India, in which we would spend two days in Sarita’s community, meeting her, her family and many others. We had expected a small celebration but thought our two-day visit would mainly be a low-key affair where we would find out more about the work ChildFund is doing in this area in remote, rural India. Were we ever so wrong!
When we arrived in the community we were first taken to ChildFund’s local partner office where we were greeted by about 800 school children clapping us into the centre. It was like the guard of honour!
After meeting the local project staff and learning more about the work they are doing in Sarita’s community, we were taken to her village where it was an eclectic mix of colour. People from all the villages had come together they were dressed up in costumes and were dancing and celebrating.
K@mel is a Melbourne-based music group made up of 13 incredibly talented students. Most members of the group met whilst studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, at the University of Melbourne, and share a love for both classical music and helping others.
“All of our members are conscious about helping others in need and individually we were looking for ways to help less fortunate people,” says Yesool Song, one of the members of K@mel. “So, naturally the group began to focus on using our talents for good.”
After seeing the devastation Super Typhoon Haiyan caused in the Philippines, K@mel knew they wanted to help. “A lot of houses and buildings were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan and amongst those affected were many children.
“Their schools were torn away so that meant many children could not get a proper education,” says Song. “We hoped that through this concert we would be able to assist the rebuilding process of destroyed homes and schools.”
And did they ever! In February, this group of passionate young Aussies performed to a packed room and raised a huge $2,500 towards ChildFund`s work in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
This wasn`t the first time K@mel have supported ChildFund. Last year, the group raised over $1,000 for our programs supporting war-affected children and communities in Uganda.
K@mel plan to continue using their music to help others, with the group (and us!) hoping their charity concerts remain a hit for years to come.
ChildFund Australia would like to extend our special thanks to all members of K@mel for their ongoing support; Soojin An, Mary Hyunju Chun, Lucy Mikyung Ha, Mihyun Ha, Jessica Jeong, Rebekah Chaerin Kim, Peiyi Ng, Jisook Noh, Laverne Oh, Angela Park, Dana Park, Lina Heeseung Park, and Yesool Song.
