The main attraction for visitors to the exhibition “Beauty Beyond Beauty” currently on at the DDP would undoubtedly be the many stunning photographs of Audrey Hepburn, who still enchants us with her particular brand of charm and glamour, as well as the stunning dresses that the renowned French designer Hubert de Givenchy created for his muse.
Who could resist being drawn into those doe-like eyes, falling captive to her magical spell? Hepburn enthralled moviegoers around the world, enjoying 
great success in the Golden Age of Hollywood, before she retreated into a very private life in Switzerland to take care of her family. Had it not been for her tireless work on behalf of UNICEF, we would remember her only as a movie star and a style icon.
Indeed, it is the photographs of Hepburn smiling with children in impoverished countries around the world that are on display at the end of the exhibition that will remain etched in my memory, as well as those of countless other visitors. The poignant image of Hepburn carrying a malnourished child in her arms, her bright smile replaced by deep furrows in her forehead and dark eyes, so distraught was she by the plight of the helpless children she saw on her last trip to Somalia as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1992, is one of such photos. Hepburn died a few months later from cancer.
Hepburn, appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1988, took her work most seriously. In a span of four years, she made several field trips to visit children in some of the poorest and conflict-ridden countries in the world. A deeply private person who shunned interviews during her acting career, Hepburn gave numerous interviews highlighting the grave problems these children faced and testified before governments, bearing witness to what she saw.
As much as in the beautiful Givenchy suits, we remember Hepburn wearing a simple T-shirt, pants and sneakers, surrounded by malnourished children. As much as she delighted us with her acting, she inspires us with her humanitarian work, her spirit of volunteerism that undoubtedly enriched her life.
Volunteering can make everyone’s life fuller. Numerous studies have shown that people who help others feel good about themselves: By volunteering, not only do you help others, you ultimately help yourself as well.
In Korea, where volunteering is a relatively new concept ― a family-centered society, we have traditionally focused on helping our immediate relatives ― middle school students are required to fulfill a certain number of service hours to graduate. The idea is to inculcate a spirit of volunteerism in youngsters so that it becomes a lifetime habit. In high school, students strive to accumulate service hours in order to boost their chances of college admission.
These requirements do indeed introduce our children to volunteering ― in fact, middle school and high school students constitute the largest group of volunteers by age group ― but whether they find their experiences rewarding enough to want to continue it as adults is questionable. Statistics show that while more than 53 percent of teenagers have engaged in volunteer work, less than 20 percent of those in their 20s have any volunteer experience.
Because finding time for volunteer work is virtually impossible while schools are in session, students strive to fulfill the service hour requirements during the school holidays. This leads to a sudden surge in demand for volunteer positions, and the onus is on the parents to find one that is suitable for their children. The system has also led to rather ridiculous positions ― holding pickets in subway stations urging commuters to walk on one side is one example ― that are created to meet the demand for volunteer positions.
With their first volunteer experiences often forced and not rewarding or fulfilling, it is not surprising that once out in society and no longer required to fill service hours, people tend to forget about volunteering. Besides, their lives are already busy, filled with work, family, social life and other pursuits.
A recent Gallup poll found that only 22.5 percent of the population are engaged in volunteer work. However, the satisfaction rate among volunteers was 89 percent, showing that most volunteers found their work to be rewarding.
Hepburn said she was always grateful for the UNICEF assistance she received while growing in the German-occupied Netherlands. When she was given an opportunity work for UNICEF, she took it very seriously, and sought to give back to the children what she had received as a child herself.
Volunteering creates a virtuous cycle ― receiving help and returning that help ― and enriches the lives of the giver and the recipient. It is not too late to add volunteering to your list of New Year’s resolutions.
By Kim Hoo-ran
Kim Hoo-ran is an editorial writer at The Korea Herald. She can be reached at khooran@heraldcorp.com. ― Ed.
