About Us
Arirang Age Friendly Community Centre (“AAFCC”) is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to address the growing number of Korean seniors in the GTA with language and/or cultural barriers to community and healthcare services.
Mandate
The mandate of the organization is to improve the quality of life for Korean Canadian seniors through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate health and wellness programs and home support services.
We strive to achieve this through our following objectives:
Enhance Korean Canadian seniors’ social participation through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate events and activities at accessible locations and times
Promote respect and social inclusion by encouraging seniors’ involvement in community activities, events and services
Increase civic participation and employment with training and volunteer opportunities
Enhance availability and access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health and health related information via print-based and online communication.
How It All Began
In 2013, a small group of like-minded individuals from the community gathered to start what is now AAFCC. The inception came about because they were concerned about the growing number of Korean seniors who simply could not access health information or services and programs due to language and cultural barriers. Ms. Eunice Kim became the first Board Chair and Ms. Julia Shin Doi the first Board Vice Chair of AAFCC.
In 2015, AAFCC received its first federal New Horizon for Seniors Grant to focus on increasing awareness of various health issues relevant to Korean seniors. And in 2016, AAFCC was awarded its second federal New Horizon for Seniors Grant which focused on the prevention of seniors elder abuse.
In 2015, AAFCC held its first successful fundraiser. The proceeds from the evening allowed AAFCC to partner with CHATS to launch the first-ever Korean specific Adult Day Program for Korean seniors living with cognitive and physical impairments in the fall of 2016. With support from Milal church, the program runs twice a week.
Today, AAFCC continues to seek further funding and donations to support existing services and programs and also to possibly expand services to new satellite locations.
Filling the gap
The vast majority of Korean Canadian seniors are unable to access community-based health services because of language and cultural barriers. Korean Canadian seniors are thus heavily dependent upon the Korean Canadian community to answer their needs.
Currently, this role is being served in an ad-hoc manner by various churches and other minor community groups within the Korean Canadian community. While these organizations have significant resources, lack of expertise and proper management have made it difficult for them to provide consistent and sustained services.
The AAFCC seeks to fill this gap by organizing these resources into a network to promote age-friendly community development in the Korean Canadian community, providing information and ensuring consistent services with its community partners.
Meet our board of directors and leadership team.
Board of Directors
Dr. Donald Do Hun Kim, M.D, Chair of the Board
Myung Sook, Kim, CPA, CGA
Dr. Ki-Dong Lim, M.D, FRCPC
Eunice Eun-Hee Kim., B.A, LL.B.
Dr. Daniel Yim, M.D
Soon Kyung Park, RN, BSc
Dae Kang, Engineer
Youngran Woo, RN
Susan Chang
Ji Wan Son
Jeanie Kwon
Thomas Bang, CPA, CA
Leadership Team
Jiyeon Lee
Choongdae Jeong
Linda Yoo
Dr. Sung A Kim, M.D.
Seong-gee Um, PhD