One click led me to know about someone from the other side of the world.
One call gave me the chance to help.
I chose to believe some connections are a miracle.
Let me figure out what miracle you have experienced…
A click….
While researching the issue of extreme poverty, this YouTube video popped up on my screen.
It was my first glance at Izai’s world, further sparking my interest in Burundi.
Some more clicks…
Both videos deepened my understanding of Burundi.
Yet, the video on the left led me to something more than knowledge: a connection that would eventually give me the chance to make a difference.
One call is all it takes for a small miracle…
A single phone call turned a chance discovery into a meaningful connection.
I reached out to the organisation behind the establishment of a girls' high school in Burundi, asking if there was any way I could contribute to its mission and support its belief in the transformative power of education.
That one call opened the door for me to meet and befriend students from Burundi who were living on the very same island as me.
Choi Jung Sook Memorial Society
This was the organisation that I called for help. To describe a bit of this society as background information…
The Choi Jeong-suk Memorial Association is a nonprofit organisation established to honour the legacy of Choi Jeong Sook (1902–1977), a Korean independence activist, educator, and women's rights advocate from Jeju Island. Inspired by her lifelong dedication to education and service, they work to expand educational opportunities and support women's empowerment, both in Korea and abroad.
One of its major successes was the establishment of Choi Jeong-suk Girls' High School in Burundi, followed by the establishment of an elementary school.
Establishment of Umoja Burundi & Korea
I decided to take a step further by attending one of the organisation's regular meetings. There, I delivered a speech expressing my wish to establish Umoja Burundi & Korea (UBK), a community dedicated to supporting Burundian students in Jeju. I wanted to turn my interest in Burundi into something tangible—a community where I could contribute to the students' lives and carry forward the organisation's belief in education.
And then, I met Izai…!
I was able to create the Umoja Burundi & Korea community as a school service organisation, and he became part of it, where he continued learning Korean and gradually grew closer to us. As we spent more time together, he began opening up and sharing more of his personal stories, allowing us to understand his experiences and get to know him on a deeper level.
However…
He suddenly left our organisation, and the only news I heard afterwards was that he had gone to Busan Port in search of work. Beyond that, I knew very little about what had happened to him or where life had taken him. I even went to Busan to meet him and convince him, and I was not able to find him there.
Back to a click…
go 19:39 to check response about Izai’s current status
After all that time, I came across him again—not in person, but through a YouTube Short.
He worked at a convenience store and applied for asylum.
What truly made me reconsider his decision, however, was learning that the money he could earn working at a convenience store in Korea while awaiting a decision on his asylum application could amount to what would take him ten years to earn in Burundi.
What we see is only a fraction of what someone else lives through.
Some of the comments beneath Izai’s video questioned his decision, with many expressing pessimism about the path he had taken. I can understand where these perspectives come from, and why some people criticized him for leaving our organisation in pursuit of financial opportunities.
However, I don't believe his entire life should be judged by that one decision. What we see is only a fraction of what Izai has lived through—and what he may still face in the future. Rather than judging his choice, I choose to appreciate it and respect his autonomy.
Whatever path he chooses to take, I believe it will be the right one for him.