Seed managing activists learn! Play! And their energy become recharged!

<Seed managing activists learn! Play! And their energy become recharged!>



Between February 19 and 20, 2009, nationwide seed managing activists held a ‘Workshop of 2009 for Seed Managing Activists for Exchanging Hope,’ visiting to see the Wonju Cooperative Movement and listening to the history of the cooperative movement and its current state and vision.

Wonju is an important place in the Korean history, where the democracy movement against dictatorship has been waged, led by Moo-wi-dang Jang IL-soon and Bishop Ji Haksoon, and Kim Ji-ha, since 1970s, and where the cooperative movement is already flowered based on self-government and cooperation amongst local people.  To deepen their understanding on the cooperative movement and discuss ways to boost the movement for exchanging hope, the activists visited Wonju. 

Seed managing activists’ schedule was like that: visiting Moo-wi-dang memorial → listening to the history and current state of the Wonju Cooperative Movement (presented by its secretary general) → visiting the Wonju Medical Living Cooperative → listening up to cases of Nuri  Credit union and Kalgury Credit Union → Visiting Wonju village center→ having dinner at a local organic restaurant → Staying in the  Toji  Foundation of Culture and having discussion (theme: major action plans and practical strategies of KWWA’s seed exchanging movement in 2009) → Visiting the Toji park → climbing Chi-ak-san mountain. 

The night sky at Wonju city was starry and beautiful.  We sharing our opinions together like this: ‘We are inspired by the cooperative movement.  I am very moved and inspired by ‘I fall down everyday but I also rise again everyday’, the comment by the Moo-wi-dang. I want to live in Wonju.  The activity for the long history is also very impressive. However, activities by women and the youth seem poorer. After I listened to the stories about the cooperative movement, I feel boosting membership participation is more important than local resource liaison.’ We also discussed ways to boost regional branches’ exchanging hope and made practical plans.  Next morning when we realized it had snowed in large flakes the previous night, happily we went to Toji park and Chi-ak-san mountain. 

I would like to thank you for your efforts, activists.  Let’s conduct a strong exchanging hope movement to help our members who shrink up from difficult livelihood to pull their shoulders back!!