A life of faith and service
Published: 24 Oct. 2009, 00:18
Kim Kyung-sun, second from left in front row, poses for a photo with Sudanese children in Rumbek, southern Sudan. Kim said she is proud of the work she has done on behalf of children in need and hopes she can help them get a good education and be free from poverty and disease. By Kim Kyung-sun
She has devoted her life to helping underprivileged people in underdeveloped countries. The work has been hard, at times taking her away from her family and far from home, but Kim sees it as her destiny and a gift from God.
Kim is in charge of donor relations and contributions management for Unicef’s North and South Sudan area programs. She also develops and implements fundraising strategies for the region; maintains relationships with donor groups; and participates in policy meetings. In addition, she analyzes and manages information about donors, Unicef’s local and global official development assistance priorities and funding trends.
Kim says she is happy to be working in Sudan. It is a dynamic country, she says, with a host of interesting things to see and learn, even though there is a lot of work to be done there.
“I am an active and open-minded person. I have no fear of working in a poor country at all since I have a firm belief that God is protecting me and showing me the way,” she said.
Kim began her career with Unicef as a junior professional officer, or JPO, in 2001. The JPO program, administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Korea, invites a number of young candidates each year to work at an international organization for a two-year period.
She was assigned to work at Unicef’s Americas desk in New York, where she was appointed to a full-time position in July 2002, just 18 months after she arrived. A month later, she became a donor relations officer for Parmo, Unicef’s Public Sector Alliances and Resource Mobilization Office.
“I had many goals and professions that I dreamed about when I was young. Most of all, I wanted to be a diplomat but I never thought I would work for an international organization,” said Kim. “Even though I’ve planned my course in life in my heart, it is the Lord who determines my steps.”
Living in a different country is nothing new to Kim, who has lived abroad for the better part of her life.
Kim’s family immigrated to Paraguay when she was in her second year of middle school. She finished her middle and high school education there before earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey in January 1997.
From there, she spent three years working for Korea Foundation and six years at Parmo in New York. It was then that she told her co-workers that she was interested in doing more practical work in the field. Later, one of the directors at the New York office told her about a vacant position in fund raising at the Sudan office and recommended that she apply.
“I realized God had answered my prayers,” Kim said. “I didn’t hesitate. I jumped at the chance to go to Sudan.”
But first she a short break to get some extra training. She earned her master’s degree in public policy with a focus on international development in June 2008 at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Then she was dispatched to Sudan.
In addition to her work for Unicef, Kim has another career as the mother of two daughters, ages 11 and 7, and a son, age 5.
“Relatives and other people I know worry that my children could get spoiled if I don’t take care of them, since I have to be away from home so often,” Kim said. “But thanks to my beloved husband, my kids are growing up well.”
And although Kim’s children may find it difficult to be without their mother at times, they also seem to be proud of her accomplishments.
“I’ve heard that my children are rather proud of what their mother is doing,” Kim said. “I’ve heard they speak well of me when they talk about me to their friends at school. I am so thankful.”
Korea has been increasing its developmental aid to various countries in recent years, and it looks like that trend is about to continue.
The head of Unicef and Korea’s foreign minister recently signed an agreement that will give Korea a larger role in providing assistance to African countries including Sudan, which will likely expand Kim’s work in the region as well.
“Even though Korea is late in stepping into this effort, I see a bright future and believe that Korea can make a large contribution to helping the African people. In this way, Korea is engaging in multilateral cooperation. That’s what we call public diplomacy,” she said.
She had some advice for others who are interested in doing the same kind of work, saying, “You have to have courage to give up the carefree life in order to work for an international organization in a less advanced country.”
She also cautioned against getting too caught up in the potential rewards. “Don’t go for it just for honors or a high salary,” she said. “In other words, all you need is a strong sense of duty and sacrifice. Don’t think of it as a job but as commitment.”
By Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)