“Proud to See Kenyan Children Running and Playing at the Safe School We Rebuilt”

Good People Chairman Dr. Gyung Bai Choi Resumes Visits to Project Sites Suspended During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chairman Choi visited Kenya, where Good People operates eight project sites. He inspected the newly rebuilt Mount Kenya School, a pyrethrum income-generation project conducted with KOICA, and a bridge construction site in Mikaneni Village.

“We undertake forms of ministry that churches cannot carry out directly and strive to let the gospel be shared naturally. For the spiritual formation of our staff, we begin each morning by meditating on Scripture, while our intercessory prayer team continues to pray without ceasing. Like Jesus, we will care for and serve marginalized neighbors with an even humbler heart.”

The work of Good People, an international relief and development NGO, resembles the ministry of Jesus, who comforted the poor and persecuted and healed the sick. Marking its 24th anniversary, Good People carries out a wide range of programs to help marginalized people become self-reliant.

Dr. Gyung Bai Choi, 63, participated in Good People’s medical programs and international development cooperation projects as an ophthalmologist for approximately 20 years before becoming its chairman in July 2021. Kukmin Ilbo recently met him at Good People’s headquarters on Omok-ro in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul.

“We are now fully resuming visits to project sites that had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Chairman Choi said. “We will continue our programs at home and abroad to share the love of Jesus, while caring for and serving marginalized neighbors with humility.”

Could you introduce Good People?

“Since 1999, Good People has lived up to its name by helping everyone in need around the world, regardless of religion, culture or national borders. Today, through partner organizations such as group homes and local children’s centers in Korea, as well as 26 project sites in 17 countries, we help people overcome poverty, disasters and disease and support them in becoming self-reliant.”

You visited Kenya, one of Good People’s overseas program countries, in March.\

“Good People operates eight project sites in Kenya, where we provide educational and medical assistance and carry out income-generation and community development projects. During this visit, we inspected the completed Mount Kenya School, an income-generation project conducted with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, or KOICA, and a bridge construction site in Mikaneni Village.

“Mount Kenya School is located in Kariobangi, a slum community in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Kariobangi is regarded as one of Nairobi’s most impoverished areas. As flooding has become more frequent because of climate change, the school building has repeatedly been inundated.

“Because the students’ safety could no longer be guaranteed, reconstruction began last year and was completed this March. To prevent flood damage, the school was rebuilt with an open ground-floor pilotis structure. The open ground level was converted into an outdoor activity area where the students could run and play. We also created computer and science laboratories, increased the number of classrooms, and provided desks and chairs.”

How did the children you met at the site react?

“They were pleased with the newly rebuilt school, but they were especially happy to run and play in the new activity area. It showed us that children need a good place to play just as much as they need a place to learn. Thanks to the support and partnership of our donors, we were able to give the children a safe and happy place to study.”

Tell us about the income-generation project conducted with KOICA.

“Pyrethrum is a flower in the chrysanthemum family that contains natural insecticidal compounds. It repels pests while being harmless to humans. Kenya provides favorable conditions for growing pyrethrum.

“Good People and KOICA are carrying out a pyrethrum project in Kenya’s Nakuru region so that vulnerable residents can become self-reliant by cultivating, drying and selling pyrethrum.”

Why was a bridge built in Mikaneni Village?

“Mikaneni Village is located in the Mwiina region, approximately 800 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It is considered one of the country’s most underserved areas.

“Mikaneni Village is divided into upper and lower sections. During the rainy season, flooding submerges the wooden bridges connecting the two areas. There were originally four wooden bridges, but two had already been swept away by floods. The remaining two were also becoming structurally unstable.

“The problem is that the school and health center are located in the lower section. When flooding occurs, residents of the upper village are unable to access basic educational and medical services. Good People is therefore constructing a new reinforced-concrete bridge connecting the two areas, with completion scheduled for this summer.

“The bridge is named the ‘Wajuri Mwiina Bridge.’ We hope it will connect the two communities and become a symbol of unity and peace.”

What does Good People’s ministry mean from a Christian perspective?

“Good People’s work may be described as undertaking forms of ministry in developing countries that churches cannot carry out directly. Through a wide range of programs, including education and healthcare, we make every effort to allow the gospel to be shared naturally.

“To accomplish this, I believe the spiritual formation of our staff is more important than anything else, because none of this can be done without God’s work. For this reason, Good People employees not only attend worship every Monday but also begin each morning by meditating on Scripture within their respective departments.

“Our intercessory prayer team also continues to pray faithfully for Good People without ceasing.”

What are the main priorities for this year?

“Good People plans to actively expand its programs both in Korea and overseas. In response to the wildfires that occurred again this year following those of last year, we are carrying out tree-planting projects in affected areas, including Gangneung in Gangwon Province and Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province.

“We also conducted emergency relief operations following the earthquake in Türkiye earlier this year and plan to actively participate in future reconstruction projects.”

Good People Chairman Dr. Gyung Bai Choi is interviewed by Kukmin Ilbo at the organization’s headquarters on Omok-ro in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Chairman Choi emphasized, “We will actively carry out programs at home and abroad that share the love of Jesus.” Photo by Shin Seok-hyun.

Good People Chairman Dr. Gyung Bai Choi poses with children after the completion ceremony for Mount Kenya School in Kariobangi, Nairobi, in March. In the lower photo, Chairman Choi, right, inspects a bridge construction site in Mikaneni Village in Kenya’s Mwiina region. Courtesy of Good People.