Homeless Festival
200602722 Hwanhee Rhee
Many people wonder why homeless people are on the street, not in the shelter. They hate homeless people not only because they look dirty and dangerous, but also they seems that they are not unwilling to stand on their own and just want to panhandle. Maybe that is true, but for the most of homeless people, that hypothesis is wrong. Most of them were abandoned from the society by some frauds, and their identification number were stolen so that they could do nothing but sleeping in the station. In addition, some experts of social welfare science say that for one homeless person who has been on the street for six months, it takes almost two years to be re-socialized. There is a social welfare agency called the Angels on the Street providing meals and necessaries to homeless people every night, and it is the only one agency that goes to subway stations to meet them on their own. Most of agency establish shelters, but Angels on the Street doesn't because they believe that is more effective to re-socialize them. So many volunteers visit the agency every night and give them hopes. That's why some homeless people planned a festival to show their appreciation and will to be re-socialized.
The Homeless Festival by the Angels on the Street is held twice a year, spring and autumn. First of all, they decide where to set the fest. Since the Angels on the Street is the Christian organization, almost every time the festival is held at churches. That's why the festival is on Thursday, to avoid other services in churches on Wednesday, Friday, and weekends. They issue entrance tickets, for collecting donations for homeless people who are still unwilling to stand on. Participants can choose the price of ticket, and the minimum is 5,000 won. Usually they pay 5,000 won or 10,000 won. They prepare some foods and performances. It is possible because there are so many types of people on their group. Some of them were cook, and others were singer, before they were abandoned. Some volunteers help preparing these, giving ingredients and practicing the performance together.
The festival begins at early afternoon. The cafeteria opens and some photos about the Angels on the Street are displayed. The main part of party are the performances and speeches of homeless people. At that time, the meal is served for participants. The menus are always different because every time the different restaurants sponsors the festival, but always include cup noodles because the Angles on the Street always provides them cup noodles. Their performances are various, some perform very professionally, and some do very shiny because it's the first time they perform in front of many people. Most of servers are the homeless people. They sell ticket on the reception desk, take orders, make teas, and serve them on their own, to let the participants feel that they are willing to stand on their own.
Most of the participants are people who has been to the Angels on the Street for volunteering, so that their service is enough make them feel fruitful. From this time, they realize that their hard work at every night was not in vain. They usually come with their friends who do not care about homeless people to let them have some sympathy for them. They also have chances to meet other volunteers and share each other's experience. Some of them go out to the stage and give them special messages of supporting. Many participants donates extra money and rice to help other homeless people still are at the subway station, feeling abandoned.
Maybe it is reasonable enough for ordinary people who do not know about homeless people to hate them. But hatred without knowledge is useless and dangerous. In addition, it doesn't help reducing homeless people at all. Participating in the Homeless festival can be very helpful to know about them, reducing the number of them, and having a warm heart!
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