On the 26th, Warm Companionship announced that it held a meeting with Ethiopian war veterans and their families to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, in collaboration with the construction project management (PM) specialized company HanmiGlobal.
The meeting was attended by Tilahun Tessema Game, an Ethiopian war veteran who fought on the front lines of Gangwon Province in 1952, along with his family, and Senbeta Mamite Hunde, a 73-year-old family member of another veteran. Tilahun returned to Korean soil for the first time in 73 years after the Korean War at the invitation of Yangpo Church in Pohang on the 19th.
Kim Jong-hoon, the chairman of Warm Companionship, delivered a welcoming speech and presented gratitude plaques to the veterans and their families. Mr. Tilahun said, "I fought fiercely in the Korean War at a young age, and seeing the developed Korea today brings tears to my eyes," adding, "I deeply appreciate the support from Warm Companionship's spatial welfare project, and I am truly moved by the warm welcome."
Mr. Tilahun had to walk 200 meters to access the bathroom at home, but years ago, Warm Companionship began improving his living environment by installing an indoor flush toilet and water tank after hearing about his story.
Warm Companionship actively conducts international development cooperation projects for disabled individuals and vulnerable groups. So far, it has worked on housing environment improvement projects for over 100 veterans and disabled families in Vietnam, Ethiopia, Turkey, and the Philippines, while carrying out global spatial welfare and emergency support activities in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In particular, the spatial welfare support project for Ethiopian war veterans has been evaluated as contributing to improving their quality of life and healing emotional wounds inflicted during the war.
On this day, to enhance the sustainability and expertise of the Ethiopian spatial welfare support project, Warm Companionship appointed Mr. Ha Ok-seon, the representative of the local NGO KFEKCO (Korean Friends Ethiopia and Kagnew Charitable Organization), who supports Ethiopian veterans and their descendants, as a cooperation branch head.
Chairman Kim Jong-hoon expressed gratitude, saying, "I genuinely thank the Ethiopian veterans and their families who sacrificed for Korea," adding, "I hope that all wars on the planet cease quickly, and we will continue support projects for the families of the Ethiopian veterans who protected us and our neighbors."
Meanwhile, Warm Companionship was established in 2010 with the slogan of creating 'a warm world without disabilities.' It is a purely nonprofit organization engaged in various fields, such as spatial welfare support projects to improve housing and living environments for the disabled, providing advanced assistive devices, creating jobs and supporting volunteer activities, assisting North Korean defectors, and international development cooperation projects.