The 'All Together' Art Exhibition, hosted at the Superior Gallery on December 23rd, was a resounding success, with the participation of 54 students, both disabled and non-disabled, in perfect harmony.

The exhibition was organized by the student non-profit organization Wholesee (www.Wholesee.org) in line with Wholesee's mission of "taking small steps together towards the future’s society."

Wholesee collaborated with Buddy Birdie Club, ReHeart All-Around, and Ivy Vision Center to create an exhibition where students from Wholesee and students with developmental disabilities from the collaborating organizations could come together for the creation of art and the orchestration of an exhibition.

Buddy Birdie Club started as a social contribution program in 2012, aiming to improve the health of adolescents with developmental disabilities by teaching and practicing golf.

Under the guidance of coach Oh Hye-Ryeon, the school has also produced Special Olympics representatives.

Ivy Vision Child Development Research Center offers specialized physical activity programs for children with developmental disabilities and operates integrated sports programs where children with and without disabilities participate together.

ReHeart All-Around, located within ReHeart Rehabilitation Hospital, provides art therapy and sensory therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Despite facing challenges, these organizations strive to support healthy and resilient children who persevere, dreaming of a society where various programs are available for children with developmental disabilities.

Wholesee, founded in 2019, aims to raise awareness of pre-existing community service activities among the youth, encouraging them to participate and make a positive impact, much like the spreading influence of a dandelion.

In the exhibition, 54 participants, including children with developmental disabilities and students from Wholesee, gathered to create art centered around the theme of 'Green’, tailored to the interests of each child.

Each artist contributed with a 19 x 19 cm canvas, resulting in a collaborative effort that produced impressive pieces totaling 171 x 114 centimeters.

Although the pieces fitting a small 19 cm canvas might appear modest, these stories were compiled to construct a more expansive 170 cm canvas.

This activity was significant and shared with friends who find tranquility in collaborative drawing and those endowed with unique talents.

All sponsorship funds from the art exhibition were donated to the 3rd Art-in-Swing Unified Golf Tournament.

The Foursome Golf Tournament is a special format golf competition where non-disabled and golfers with developmental disabilities take turns hitting shots.

While it is common and naturally taking place internationally, it is not yet well-established domestically.

The Art-in-Swing event has been ongoing in Korea since 2022 intending to provide good companionship for domestic athletes with developmental disabilities, enabling them to quickly enhance their skills.

This initiative involves engaging in sports together and learning communication methods, and it has been in progress for three years .

Non-disabled children are expected to create the character of new leaders in this era through social contributions, while children with disabilities are anticipated to gain the small courage to communicate with the world through natural encounters with friends, creating a miraculous movement that will make our society even warmer.

Seokhyun Chin

Grade 11

Choate Rosemary Hall