On August 20th, 2016, Share Ground, an organization formed of students who want to give a “helping hand” to people who face difficulties throughout the world, held their third annual fundraiser in Nonhyeondong, Seoul.

This was not the first time Share Ground had made an attempt to enhance public welfare. In the last two years, Share Ground had made several achievements with different members who joined each year. In the first year, 2014, Share Ground donated 3 million won to the bereaved families who lost their children from the traumatizing Sewol Ferry Incident because the incident took place in April of the same year. They then donated the rest of their items to a children's organization.

In the second year, Share Ground raised 5 million won and donated it to the Nepal embassy because of the earthquake in Nepal that caused millions of deaths in 2015. From this donation, Irene Lee, the representor of Share Ground was invited to Nepal to receive a certificate recognizing and thanking Share Ground’s donation.

From then on, Share Ground decided to allow their participants to vote on a donation site of their preferences by providing them with different options. To do so, two students were chosen to write reasons on why their proposed places for donation are support worthy. Then, on the day of the fundraiser, the two students’ essays were hung up, and the participants were allowed to vote to the site they preferred.

The Share Ground members went through vigorous preparation in order to render their event successful. The members first sorted out all the donated items they received into two categories: items that could be sold and items that were too old or damaged to sell. Then they listed all the sellable items, writing descriptions for each item to allow the participants to gain specific information about it. The students also carefully calculated the number of people and amount of money needed for different booths and meticulously planned the schedule of the event.

On the day of the fundraiser, the students got together several hours prior to the auction to move all the items to the chosen location, originally a large buffet restaurant. After carefully checking the order of the items once again, they adjusted the furniture in the location to make the location look like an auction house.

When the time for the event approached, the participants were able to choose the items of their interests by writing down the numbers assigned to the different items. Then, with a staff member, the participants negotiated to determine the price of the items they wanted to buy. During intermission, the students went around to ask the participants if they were willing to be members of the Share Ground NGO, which Share Ground set as a goal.

The participants also had time to look closely at the items they were interested in, comparing sizes and color to their tastes. Negotiations of prices continued from then on, and at the end of the auction fundraiser, Share Ground was able to collect a total of 1,881,000 won.

After the votes are sorted out, the collected money will be donated to one of the two sites that won more votes. This auction fundraiser was successful because of all the staff members’ hard work and all the participants’ active support. It is hoped that Share Ground achieves in becoming a nongovernmental organization to spread more positive influences throughout the world to those in need.
 

Yenah Jang
Grade 11
Chadwick International School