Tan's Taekwondo Foundation

"Giving back to the Community"

From the tsunami in Sri Lanka to the Victorian bush fires, these tragic events touch us all.  There is not a day that goes past that I am so grateful for the life I live, the family I have and the students that I teach.  A few years ago, I decided to actively fund raise so that we at Tan's can make a difference.  A small donation goes a long way for those less fortunate than us.  The gesture of giving is a way of showing how grateful we are of what we have.

Korean Orphanage

One of our ongoing project is to assist a Korean Orphanage.  David Pobjie is fellow Taekwondo Instructor and good friend of mine who has volunteered his time living in Korea for the past 4 years.  He is devoting his life to helping the children free of charge.  The orphanage is called Sarang Yuk A Won and is in the village of Sang Jeong Ri, in Chungcheongnam-do. It is a rural village, with a predominatly aged population. The produce of the area is rice, kim (seaweed) and pork. The closest known town is Hongseong. The orphanage is privately owned (as most are) and the children are a source of income for the owner.
 
There are 40 children, ages from 3 years to 20 years old at the orphanage. Many have a parent, but have been abandoned...until they reach working age! One girl whom we brought out to Australia last year, was taken to the orphanage when she was 5 years old. Her mother told her to play with the other kids and she will return in an hour...that was 9 years ago. Therefore, most of the children have emotional and psychological problems from being rejected by their own parents. It is actually easier for a child to cope and get on with life if their parents had died, then to live with the knowledge that your own family rejected and abandoned you.
 
This is our 5th year at the orphanage teaching English, art and music. Of course a major part of what we do is to show acceptance and love.  So, the child struggles with anger, being unwanted and to never feel the love and affection, nurturing of a mother or father.  In Korea, orphans have the lowest status in society as everything revolves around the family unit.  We try to show them God's love and confirm to them that... "I (God) have not forgotten you...your name is engraved on the palm of my hand". Isaiah 49;15,16 and Jeremiah 29;11 " I have a plan for your life. A plan for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". 

You can rest assure that 100 % of the money we raise for the Orphanage goes to the orphans.  There are a lot of charities where most of the donation is absorbed by hefty  "administration costs".  David gives us an account of where every cent goes.  These bikes were purchased by David from funds raised.  Many of the orphans have email and Skype.  We are hoping to arrange Pen Pals for any of our students interested. 

Scholarships

We believe that participation in martial arts has a substantial, positive effect on the lives of young people. Our scholarship program gives economically disadvantaged youth access to the benefits of studying taekwondo at Tan's.  They learn discipline, focus, self-confidence, and respect for themselves and others. Because academic welfare and personal responsibility are core values of Tan's, students must maintain good school grades in order to remain eligible for their taekwondo scholarship.

Scholarship opportunities are also available to adults in the form of full or partial tuition assistance. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to give back to the community.  Application forms and guideline will be available shortly.