Korean orphanage renamed “Woori Jib” instead of Hamin Tokou

On 28 November 2016 Woori Jib, once known as Hamin Tokou, was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop John Wong and witnessed by Rev General Libo

Mar 06, 2018

POTUKI: On 28 November 2016  Woori Jib, once known as Hamin Tokou, was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop John Wong and witnessed by Rev General Liborious Park Hye Sik and Tan Sri Datuk Sri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Woori Jib St Francis Xavier Potuki, a welfare home for orphans from poor Catholic families, is located at Kampung Potuki, Lokawi Putatan. In Korean, Woori Jib means “Our Home.”   The welfare of the children in this home is fully sponsored by the Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Mirinae, South Korea (SST).

Currently, the home is taken care of by two house mothers and a cook. There are also a few volunteers helping to look after the home apart from three full time priests running the home.

An agreement has recently been signed between the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu and the Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Mirinae for the Society to set foot in the Archdiocese.  The priests are Father Andrew Kim Youngjun, Father Lawrence Kim Jinsu and Father Leo Choi Sangki, who is also the patron of Woori Jib.

Woori Jib has started taking in children from poor families, mostly girls aged between 7-17 years. On 3 March 2017, five orphan girls began their stay at this home. However, in mid- 2017, Woori Jib opened the home for poor families too, including those families who cannot afford to send their children to school due to poverty.  As at January 2018, the number of boarders has increased to eight.

The home can accommodate up to 25 children at any one time. It is only accepting girls aged between 7- 17 (or Primary One to Form Five). After finishing their study in Form Five, they would return to their families.

In 2017, visitors and volunteers have visited the Woori Jib St Francis Xavier Potuki orphanage home to offer charity work to clean the home and its surroundings, donated cash, food and school materials.  While there, they also interacted with the children of Woori Jib.

The management of Woori Jib also announced that “Hamin Tokou Holy Item” located at Megalong is no longer associated with Fr Leo and is managed by Lawrence Jakil, while Woori Jib Holy Item, under the management of Woori Jib, is located at Lot No. 1-202, (Corner), Tingkat Satu, Bangunan ITCC (International Technology & Commercial Centre) Penampang and would be open for business by mid-March.

Any activities dealing with charity visit organised by Hamin Tokou no longer has any association with Fr Leo.  For any inquiries or charity visits, kindly contact the Management of Woori Jib, St Francis Xavier Home Potuki at 019-8822418 or 088-752088. --kkdiocese.net