austraLasia #3081
Figure
Queen
supports South Sudan Mission
SEOUL: 6 June 2012 -- Last
Saturday, 2nd June, 'Figure Queen' Yuna
Stella Kim,
gold medallist in the Figure Skating, Vancouver 2010 Winter
Olympics
event, visited Salesian Provincial House in Seoul and added
herself to
those helping to plan construction of 100 small schools
in South
Sudan, launched by the Salesian Sudan Delegation through Fr
Vincenzo
Donati's initiative.
Father Vincenzo Donati and Br James Comino, who actually
belong to the
Sudan Delegation but used to be Italian missionary members of
KOR for
more than 20 years, both came to Korea for the fund raising
event on
7th May. They met many people, especially a past pupil who
invited them
to the occasion of home-coming day, an annual event
encouraging past
pupils to visit the Salesian High School 30 years after
graduation.
Fr Donati had written to some well-known public figures to
raise more
money, like sportsman, popular singers, politicians,
businessman. Many
responded to his appeal. Yuna was one of them.
Yuna wanted to visit and meet them to hear some real stories
of the
Africa which had impressed her so much when she visited last
summer for
the 2018 Winter Olympics Campaign to be held in Korea. She
donated US$ 60,000 ,
the
cost equivalent to a small school construction.
Fr Donati said "As a figure queen, you have been a role model
for many
children in the world and this is real education, to give them
something to dream for. I am really thankful to you for giving
us a
chance to realize children's dreams in South Sudan. Now you
are the
Queen of Love!"He also said "One of the schools will be named
the 'Kim
Yuna School' and I hope you can visit these children during
their time
at school after the construction is completed".
Kim Yuna said "I would gladly like to help their activities if
I can
help children of South Sudan". She also said "As an
athlete and
someone who is also going to be a teacher, I know the
importance of
education for all children. I will help children in poverty as
much as
I can."
Fr Donati gave Yuna a drawing of Mary Help of Christians on
papyrus as
a present and played the 'Blue Danube Waltz' on his accordion
to thank
Yuna. Br James has taken Yuna's autograph to include on a
school plaque.