[letter from childcare worker] I learned a lot from disabled children

[Hope Center to Abolish Poverty and Increase the Rights of Women Workers]

                        I learned a lot from disabled children

                        Im Okkyung (childcare worker belonging to Ansan Women Workers' Association)

In this February chilly wind made me cold. Because I am over 50 years old with low educational background, it was not easy for me to find a job. The job of child care worker suits me, and I feel it's meaningful and I am happy. However, as in this late February I had to finalize the childcare work, I felt sorry and concerned for the children that I was looking after.

Since the last March I as a child care worker for a single parent family had looked after 13 year mentally retarded girl and had taken her from home to school and brought her back to home.

Between March and July, I had to take her from home to school and bring her back to home, but she had an operation on her legs so I had to take care of her in hospital. This girl cannot say any word except "mommy." She had to wear hygiene napkins for a baby all the time or I have to take her to toilet every 2~3 hours. Because her legs were bent, she often tumbled when she walked. Therefore, someone had to hold her all the time. That's why she had an operation on her left leg to straighten hers in the last summer vacation and on right left in the last winter vacation. After the long and difficult operations, she had to have some 30 cm long and heavy pins put and stuck and she was in hospital for 3 months without walking.

Her mother is a divorced breadwinner and has a lot of hardship taking care of child by herself. The kid needs someone to be beside her because she cannot do anything by herself. I was able to talk with her with eyes. I was able to assume what she wants because I was with her for one year. Sometimes I feel it's so tough that I wanted to quit this job, however they need me, so I was able to stand that.

Even though the girl can express herself only 10% and although she can't achieve what she wants, she is patient. I have learned from her. Although I am in difficulty, I know mine is very small and my complaints are just luxury compared to her and her mother.

Her mother has gone through double hardships. She has to earn money because of medical fees including operation expenses and has to take care of her daughter. When the child sleeps at night she asks her nephews or those who take care of other patients near her daughter and goes to work over night. She come back home in the morning but when I take care of the kid, she is also so sick that she has to go to hospital and do housework. After taking care of some tedious but important things, she has to change her job with me and look after the girl, and so it is very tiring. For the last one year the mother often said this project for single parent families is so helpful, but she doesn't know how to do in future. Her relatives usually mention that her kid should be put in a center, but it is very difficult to put her free of charge. Because of her daughter she doesn't want someone in difficulty. That's why she wants to carry that burden by herself. In addition, because the daughter is disabled she was discarded by her husband, now it becomes her goal and meaning of her life to take good care of the kid. That's why I guess she stands this so well.

At the hospital, people wonder about me. They know I am not her relative or employed. I explain to them that the project for single parent families can be available in Ansan. They wonder if they are eligible for the service although the project is not implemented the cities where they live. They want to move to Ansan, but I can't dare to say the service would be terminated this year.

As a childcare worker I feel my job is meaningful because I can help those in difficulties. Moreover, I feel it's really nice that we can share and exchange together, and women householders are so strong that they can swim the sea of troubles hard. In addition, prejudice against disabled people is overcome and hugged with love, and I realize there is much deeper love.

In the end, I am very thankful to Ansan Women Workers' Association staff members for trying to provide me happy job environments. Although this project is terminated, I believe you, Ansan Women Workers' Association, will light the hopes in the darkness of Ansan with other projects. Thank you!