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KBS 1TV’s “Love Beyond Sea” is a program in which well-known Korean celebrities visit vulnerable communities around the world to meet children living in difficult circumstances. By sharing time and stories together, the program conveys the true meaning of giving and the value of “being together.” On Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 4:10 p.m., the program features actress Ye Ji-won as she visits Marsabit, Kenya, where she meets three children - Gumato, Abudo, and Orge - and shares in their lives and stories.
Severe Drought, Poverty, and Children Heading to Work Instead of School
“Approximately 320 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to safe drinking water”
- World Bank Report, 2023
Located in East Africa, Kenya is a country where many children face poverty, disease, and limited access to education. In particular, the Marsabit region is suffering from severe drought and chronic water shortages, making survival difficult for both people and livestock. In this region, many children - who should be attending school - are instead pushed into labor to support their families.
During her visit, actress Ye Ji-won met three young children who have become heads of their households at an early age: Gumato, Abudo, and Orge. Each of them shoulders the responsibility of caring for their families and earning a living day by day.
A Heavy Responsibility on Small Shoulders
The first child Ye Ji-won met was Gumato, a 14-year-old girl who supports her family while caring for her mother, who is visually impaired, and her younger brother, who has paralysis of the lower body.
“I’m the only one who can work in my family, so I always work alone…
I have to stay by my mother and brother’s side.”
Despite the severe shortage of water and food, Gumato spends each day gathering firewood to earn money for her family’s survival. Though the burden she carries is far greater than what a child her age should bear, her eyes still hold a strong determination not to lose hope.
The second child, Abudo, is a 10-year-old boy who lost his hometown due to inter-tribal conflict and began a new life in an unfamiliar place with his single mother. Fully aware of his family’s hardship, Abudo works everyday breaking and selling stones, knowing that he is the pillar and hope of his household.
“Please buy some stones! Please buy some stones!
I want to go to school, but we don’t even have money for food.
Even if I sell all the stones, I don’t know if it will be enough to pay for school.”
Though Abudo’s small hands are covered with wounds and calluses, a pure spark of hope still lives in his heart - a determination not to give up on his dreams.
The third child, Orge, is an 11-year-old boy who takes care of his younger brother while handling household chores. Setting aside his wish to attend school, Orge endures hard labor each day for the sake of his family. He often walks for more than an hour across a dried riverbed to collect muddy water, and many days he survives on just one meal. Still, the boy quietly endures his harsh reality while dreaming of the day he can finally go to school.
Actress Ye Ji-won’s Sincere Compassion for the Children
Known for her delicate and deeply expressive performances, actress Ye Ji-won has long demonstrated positive influence through volunteer work in Africa. Once again, she traveled to Marsabit, Kenya, to meet children in need due to poverty and disability. Meeting these young heads of household who had given up schooling to support their families, Ye Ji-won worked alongside them - breaking stones and carrying muddy water. Witnessing the children endure such difficult lives for the sake of their families, she felt not only deep sorrow but also profound respect.
“Their daily lives may seem very different from ours,
but I realized that we all share the same hope - for a safe and happy tomorrow.
I sincerely hope that this program helps bring people together,
so that small acts of warmth can grow into great hope for these children.”
- Actress Ye Ji-won
[KBS 1TV Love Beyond Sea] Ye Ji-won (Kenya) episode,
Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 4:10 p.m. on KBS 1TV.
This episode shares the daily lives of Gumato, Abudo, and Orge as they struggle to survive in Marsabit, Kenya. We ask for your warm support and viewership, and hope this program becomes a moment to share hearts together.
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