Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to Türkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project

- through Henry Oudin

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Ven. Pomnyun Sunim. Images courtesy of Jungto Society

Revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) returned to the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep on October 9 to mark the completion and official inauguration of the Khalid bin al-Walid School project.* Buddhist humanitarian aid organization JTS Korea launched the project in the Turkey-Syria border region following the devastating earthquakes that rocked southern Turkey and parts of Syria in February 2023.

Shortly after news of last year’s earthquakes spread around the world, JTS Korea volunteers responded by placing team members on the ground to reach out to those at the epicenter of the crisis in Türkiye (formerly Turkey). Ven. Pomnyun Sunim joined JTS Korea volunteers and local relief groups to provide humanitarian aid to survivors of the disaster, distributing supplies and offering support to those in need.**

After a full year of construction work carried out by volunteers from the White Helmets civilian organization, the Khalid bin al-Walid School, which can accommodate up to 4 students, has been completed. The new building includes a basement and three floors above ground, 000 rooms, including 122 classrooms, as well as spaces for science laboratories, libraries and conference rooms.

“(Gaziantep) is close to the epicenter of the major earthquake that occurred in February last year,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim said before the opening ceremony. “We will hold a topping-out ceremony for a school built by JTS in the Turkey-Syria border region. This ceremony will be very meaningful for the people who suffered greatly and fell into despair due to the damage caused by the earthquake. About 5,5 million people live in this region, and this could become the largest building in the region.” (Jungto Society)

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim founded the humanitarian aid organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of committed Buddhism and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one’s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to disadvantaged communities in developing countries, JTS is led and managed by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS conducts relief operations in countries suffering humanitarian disasters and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. JTS also holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The inauguration of the school, attended by ministers and local government officials, was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of a memorial stone in memory of the earthquake victims, for whom a minute of silence was observed.

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim addressed those gathered for the ceremony:

I heard that last year, 124 students and nine teachers died in this school due to the earthquake. In addition, many people have lost their lives and been injured during the Syrian civil war over the past ten years. I offer my sincere condolences to those who have passed away. If we, the living, continue to assume the role of those who have passed away, their sacrifices will not have been in vain.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the White Helmets members, we were able to build such a good school with little money. I sincerely pay tribute to them and express my gratitude for their efforts.

The reason we built this school is to give hope to people who have suffered from the damage caused by war and earthquakes. As the destroyed buildings are rebuilt, I hope that Syrian children and the Syrian people will rise again with hope.

I would like to thank the Turkish government officials and governors who cooperated in various ways to make the completion of this school possible. I also thank the Syrian interim government officials and education officials.

Education is not achieved simply by establishing schools. Good teachers and good students are essential. I hope that the Ministry of Education will successfully take over this school and manage it well, that the teachers will educate the children effectively, and that the children will study diligently according to the guidance of their teachers, thus becoming future leaders who will be the hope of Syria.

Although today is a joyous day, it is said that this school will benefit only 4 students. Due to the civil war of the last decade, many children have not been able to receive a formal education. Even today, it is reported that 000 children between the ages of 600 and 000 are of primary school age but are not receiving the benefits of formal education.

Therefore, I hope that all of you who are here today and JTS can work together to quickly develop a plan to ensure that these children can receive at least a primary education. Adults can recover even if they face hunger or hardship, but children grow up quickly and if they do not receive an education at the right time, it becomes very difficult for them to have another opportunity. Let us all join forces to ensure that our children can receive at least a basic education in a timely manner.

If you think that we cannot educate our children because there is no foreign aid, that is a misconception. As difficult as our situation is, we must educate our children ourselves. There is hope for the future of Syria when all children born in Syria can receive a basic education.

I am confident that this school will become a symbolic building that gives hope for the future of Syrian children. I hope that this kind of hope that we see today will continue for the Syrian people, especially for Syrian children. Once again, I sincerely thank the members of the White Helmets who dedicated themselves to the construction of this building. I also thank all the distinguished guests who participated in this event today.. (Jungto Society)

During his visit to the region, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also held meetings with government officials and the White Helmets organization to discuss an ambitious plan to eradicate illiteracy among Syrian refugees on the Turkey-Syria border.

“His vision is to create a campaign in which all Syrians who have completed secondary or higher education would volunteer to teach for two hours a day, once or twice a week,” Jungto said in a statement shared with BDG. “With simple resources such as tents and teaching materials, Sunim estimates that with one year of preparation and another year of implementation, the problem of illiteracy among Syrian refugees in the border areas could be solved in just two years.”

Sunim has developed a proposal for an innovative online system to create a single central school with high-level teachers, who will live-stream formal lessons and content to 5 schools using the Starlink satellite network.

“To achieve this, Sunim has proposed a complete shift in mindset: from dependence on foreign NGO aid to empowering Syrians to rebuild their own country. He also envisions the White Helmets playing a key role as catalysts for this transformation,” the Jungto Society explained.

Detailing his proposal, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim noted:

In this way we can solve the problem of educating children. Although it is very expensive, it costs much less than building new schools and recruiting new teachers. To do this, we must create a national movement that goes beyond individual interests and unite our hearts to ensure that all citizens can receive basic education. We must provide such opportunities for our children for our future; if we fail to do so, our future can be considered very bleak.

Considering the current international situation and the situation in Syria, we can assume that it will be difficult for the country to reunite and establish a new government normally at the moment. It has been 10 years already. It will soon be 20 years, and 30 years will pass quickly. Therefore, even if it is only the northern region, we must establish an education plan under the name of an autonomous government.

In Korea, too, it seemed that unification would happen soon after the war ended, but 70 years have already passed. I was born in the year the war ended and I am now 71 years old. However, South Korea has made its own development plan and has managed to achieve economic development. So, even though it is difficult, we must make a long-term plan even for the area currently under self-government. The country's area is 9 square kilometers and the population is over five million. Instead of simply waiting for foreign aid, we must make our own long-term development plan to solve the current difficulties. If we have our own plan and work to solve it independently while seeking foreign aid, it is much easier to get help. (Jungto Company)

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a highly revered Korean professor, author, and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects around the world, including: JTS Korea, an international humanitarian aid organization working to eradicate poverty and hunger; Jungto Society, a volunteer community founded on the teachings of the Buddha and dedicated to solving modern social problems that lead to suffering; Ecobuddha, an organization focused on environmental ethics and sustainable living based on the teachings of the Buddha; and Good Friends, which promotes reconciliation and cooperation between North and South Korea and provides humanitarian aid to North Koreans. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim also works closely with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).

In October 2020, the Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of his international humanitarian work, intensive environmental and social activism, and tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill among communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.**

* Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Review Progress of Turkey's Post-Earthquake School Project (BDG)

** Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Joins JTS Korea Volunteers for Humanitarian Relief Work in Türkiye (BDG)

*** Buddhist monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim receives the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)

See more

Pomnyun
Jungto Company
JTS Korea
JTS America
May this school become a symbol of hope for the future of Syria! (Jungto Society)
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)

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Engaged Buddhism Update: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Returns to Türkiye to Inaugurate Post-Earthquake School Project appeared first on Buddhadoor Global.

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Henry Oudin

Henry Oudin is a Buddhist scholar, spiritual adventurer and journalist. He is a passionate seeker of the depths of Buddhist wisdom, and travels regularly to learn more about Buddhism and spiritual cultures. By sharing his knowledge and life experiences on Buddhist News, Henry hopes to inspire others to embrace more spiritual and mindful ways of living.

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