Wednesday December 2, 2015
Kabul (BNA) Basically, Saemaul Undong Movement is a movement seeking community development and modernization. Of all things, it is a movement to escape from poverty. This ideal is not limited to individual lifestyles and living conditions, but encompasses the whole community. It means not working for only myself, but for my village and for my country; not depending upon somebody else for help nor dreaming of a lucky fortune, but doing things with our own hands in the right ways. It cannot be done alone. We must stand together and help each other to move forward. Our village is a community where we work and live, and that is why we should develop it together, hand-in-hand. It is also a fight against old and deep pessimistic views such as “poverty is our fate” or “it is impossible.” It is a movement of getting over our pessimism, a movement of mental reformation. Korea Saemaul Undong Center organized the Global Saemaul Leadership Forum 2015(GSLF 2015) under the theme of “Sustainable Development with Saemaul Undong” with approximately 550 participants from 50 different countries including Afghanistan.
Following the opening ceremony on November 24, the main event was held the following day at the Hotel Inter-Burgo Daegu. GSFL 2015 held to discuss the globalization of Saemaul Undong, the Forum continued until November 27. Participants shared their rural development experiences and discussed directions for future development. High-profile officials attended the ceremony, including Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Afghanistan (MoRRD), Engineer Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Cambodian CHEA Sophara Minister of Rural Development, and Ugandan Minister for Local Government Adolf Mwesig. Those who were unable to personally attend the GSLF 2015 sent congratulatory messages. Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye, sent video messages to offer congratulations on the hosting of GSLF 2015 also the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. At the sidelines of the GSLF a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Afghanistan (MoRRD) and the Republic of Korea.
This MoU will pave the ground to spread the concept and experience of Saemaul Undong for the rural development and poverty eradication in Afghanistan, and to promote active participation and mutual cooperation between the sides for the successful implementation of Saemaul Undong. Both sides will cooperate to support the Saemaul leaders and experts via invitational training or dispatch of instructor to increase the knowledge of Saemaul Undong and improve the technical capacity of the Ministry of MoRRD staff and relevant community representatives. Also support for carrying out community-based pilot projects when the safety of the dispatched personnel is permissible, support for improving academic understanding of and research capacity in rural development, local governance and other relevant fields; information sharing and support related to improving rural development policy, planning and implementation at the national and sub-national levels; other areas of mutual interest regarding rural development and Saemaul Undong.
Implementation:
The sides will carry out the cooperative activities under this MoU upon mutual agreement.
Legal Framework:
All cooperative activities under this MoU will be carried out in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of each side. Violation of domestic laws of either side will result in the termination of this MoU. Also this MoU may be modified only with the prior written consent of the sides.
Validity:
this MoU will come into effect on the date of signature and will remain in effect for a period of three years as well this MoU may be renewed for a successive periods of three years by mutual written consent of the sides. Edriss Akbary
