From Korea with blessings

In 1977, Chang Ok Lee contracted a serious bout of malaria and asked God for healing in exchange for a life of service to the poor in Africa. This is how the organisation I Love Africa was born, writes ALLAN OLINGO

What inspired you to start the organisation I Love Africa?

Chang has a heart for the poor. {PHOTOS: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD}

In 1977, I was living with my husband in Monrovia, Liberia where he had been posted. I contracted malaria and was unwell for some time. This was to be my turning point. I asked God to heal me and I would serve him. When He did it, I gave my life to Christ and vowed to start a project that would help the poor. I started the I Love Africa NGO, which now has a presence in 53 African countries.

What are the objectives of I Love Africa?

Our main goal is to help eradicate poverty through the use of media.

The organisation aims to meet the United Nations Millennium Development goals by improving social conditions in Africa.

We provide child welfare, access to clean drinking water, food relief, medical treatment and help children infected and affected by HIV.

We want to improve the lives of vulnerable children like orphans and abandoned babies across the continent.

Where do you get funding for your projects?

We liase with the media and other like-minded organisations to create awareness on the plight of the needy.

I use the media to sensitise the Korean people on the challenges that Africa is going through.

We produce films and documentaries that highlight the plight of the poor people in Africa then show the Korean donors.

Through this I manage to get contributions, which we channel to the construction of schools, health facilities and boreholes.

Why did you choose film as a medium to help the needy?

I noticed that it has the power to impact many people across the globe.

Films and documentaries are the easiest way to convince the people that Africa needs their help.

What are some the projects you have undertaken?

We have sunk four boreholes in Tanzania and also built a church.

In Kenya, we have sunk boreholes in Kajiado, built a dispensary in Samburu and distributed food in Turkana.

We are also in the process of sinking boreholes in Turkana.

What are the challenges you faced when starting the project?

When I was starting off, at first my husband was against the idea because he thought Africa was a dangerous place and I could not have a solution to its problems.

Coming from a royal family, some of my family members could not understand why I wanted to do charity for Africa and they discouraged me.

Selling the idea to the Korean people was also a challenge.

You see, the rich Koreans shun poor people and convincing them to help l was a problem. But by the grace of God we managed to overcome these problems.

What kind of background are you from?

I was born and brought up in a rich royal family in Seoul, South Korea. I had everything I wanted.

When I was still single I used to live in South Korea with my parents.

But when I got married, I joined my husband in Liberia where he was working.

It was in Liberia that I came face to face with crippling poverty.

How does the project work?

With the help of my point men, I identify grass root organisations that are running projects that meet our objectives.

We then give them the funds we have collected from the Korean people and they use it to fund their projects.

How do you ensure transparency and accountability in the projects?

I do my best to visit all the projects in all the 53 countries to ensure that the money disbursed has been put to good use.

It pains me when I see NGO officials misusing and mismanaging money meant to help the needy.

Recently, I was in Turkana to inspect some projects.

That is the reason I am in Kenya, I want to have a personal feel of the projects.

Do you partner with International organisations?

Yes we do, for instance World Vision.

We have delivered documentaries and films to them so that they can also assist.

We also partner with international Christian media organisations, who have helped us to broadcast our films and documentaries.

Do you have any youth empowerment projects?

Yes we do. I established a media training centre called the Wold Multimedia Mission Centre in South Korea.

Here, we train the talented but poor youth on film and production.