Today, November 6^th, 2013 the director of Good Neighbors International Mr. Jaekyun Rho and UNHCR Deputy Representative Mr. Koffi Dodzi Adossi have signed an agreement to seal their cooperation for the benefit of Malian refugees living in Niger. Good Neighbors is handing $9000 in cash to contribute to UNHCR’s refugee programme in Niger, focusing on improving the nutritional status of refugee children. In addition, the Agreement also covers an in-kind donation of clothing, shoes and hygiene products of a value of $40,000. On September 25th, GNI showed its solidary towards the refugees and organized a distribution of these relief items in Mangaize refugee camp.

Founded in Korea in 1991, one of the top priorities of GNI is children’s rights and the empowerment of individuals, families, and their communities. GNI accompanied by its goodwill ambassador the South Korean actor Choi Soo Jong joined hands to help people in need in Mangaize refugee camp. Mr Choi Soo Jong participated in the wetfeeding activities in the camp and distributed necessary items such as clothes, shoes, and hygiene products to young refugees aged from 4 to 13 years old. This came just in time as children were getting ready to go back to school for the new school year. The children were excited to receive new shoes and new shirts for the first day of school.  4,350 children including 2,045 girls and 2,155 boys in the camp and others from the Nigerien hosts received items to start the school year with new hope.

The head of UNHCR’s field office in Mangaizé Mr Romain Assirangar Natoy Allah said:

It is our pleasure to receive a famous actor like Mr. Choi Soo Jong who traveled from South Korea to Mangaizé refugee camp to bring in hope and comfort to refugee children demonstrating his engagement for children’s rights. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces made all these efforts worthwhile…we can see the success of the partnership with Good Neighbors as it proved meaningful to the children, parents and everyone involved.

Opened in May 2012, Mangaizé refugee camp is located 140 km north of Niamey and hosts more than 2,350 families representing some 9,240 refugees and other persons of concern. In Mangaize, the refugee population is happy to count on Good Neighbors as a kind and mindful neighbor from overseas. Click here for more information about Mangaize refugee camp.