Volunteer in the Vacation

Do you want to spend your vacation more meaningfully? Then how about signing up for some volunteering programs? There are lots of volunteering programs organized by Ewha and other organizations for service inside and outside of Korea. Read on to find out more…

Volunteer Program in Ewha

If you want to do volunteer work, you can easily go to the Ewha Volunteer Center. This center offers some information about volunteering to Ewha Womans University students and it manages three programs for volunteers. First, you can go to the countryside to teach students who have fewer educational opportunities. In this program, you can teach subjects like Mathematics, Science and English. Not only can you teach major subjects, but also extracurricular activities like playing “Pungmul.” Second, you can choose to participate in a medical service for undeveloped countries and refugee camps. In this case, you will be sent abroad and dispatched to a medical team. Third, if you are strong, you could participate as an architect volunteer. In this program, you build houses for poor people who do not have residences.

To apply for these programs, you can visit the Volunteer Center website (URL: http://home.ewha.ac.kr/~sscenter/jsp/main.jsp). Applications are accepted twice a year, in spring (from April to May) and fall (from October to November.) When you apply for this program, you have to submit a resume and a letter about yourself. If you want to apply for international volunteering, you will also have to interview. If you participate in an Ewha Volunteer Program, you can have a good chance to get credits for society service and receive a certificate. Most of all, you can help others in need.

About KOICA

KOICA is one of the famous global volunteering programs. It stands for Korea International Cooperation Agency.

This program is an important part of Korea’s grant aid program, since it encourages the exchange of human resources. It strengthens the impact of Korea’s foreign aid, and enhances mutual understanding between Korea and its partner countries.

KOICA’s mission is to contribute to poverty reduction and to sustainable development in developing countries. It does this by helping improve the quality of life of people in developing countries, by strengthening friendly relations and mutual understanding between host countries and Korea, and by utilizing volunteers’ experience and knowledge acquired through overseas volunteering activities.

Participants in KOICA assist in areas like education, health, rural development, information and communication technology, industry, energy, governance and the environment.

If you want to be a volunteer in KOICA, you should summit papers that could prove whether you have some professionalism related to your major or not. In most cases, you could apply to the program even though you just have certificates or work experience. If you want to volunteer for a medical program, you should summit at least one relevant certificate. If you want some more information about KOICA, you can get plenty of information from KOICA website (URL: http://www.koica.go.kr/).

International Work Camp

The “International Work Camp” is a sort of community project which recruits groups of about 10~15 young people from various countries whose language and culture are totally different from each other. They get service projects which have been prepared in advance and work together for local communities. Since Work Camp advocates the equality of human beings all over the world, participants live in the same conditions as the local residents.

Participation in the program will provide many benefits. Working together and solving problems occurring in the camps through voluntary and active discussion processes could make the participants learn diversity and mutual respect. Also, they could share various cultures with each other. Different backgrounds give different knowledge to individuals. Through participating in the Work Camp, young people are able to acquire social skills by learning how to cooperate and it is extremely important to become a member of society. Furthermore, Work Camp requires you to participate actively and this promotes a sense of responsibility. In other words, the participants of Work Camp should take care of their own problems rather than rely on others. In this regard, they will not only promote community spirit but also gain a sense of independence.

Types of work which participants normally do

1. Environment: rivers purification, national park purification, recreational forest creation, tree planting, animal care, eco-village creation etc.

2. Agriculture: picking fruits from organic farms, sowing seeds, reclaiming the wasteland etc.

3. Construction: repairing schools, youth centers and training grounds, maintaining museums etc.

4. Social work: volunteering for children, old people and disabled people etc.

5. Culture: planning and running festivals with cultural organizations, wholesome culture campaign etc.

6. Art: planning and operating art projects with arts groups etc.

7. Education: participating in learning projects held by cultural, artistic and religious groups etc.

8. Others: planning and operating projects with the local communities, conducting seminars, doing campaign activities etc.

In conclusion, I am sure that this information can be helpful when you make a plan for your vacation. Participating in volunteer programs makes your life more fruitful. Don’t be afraid to apply for these programs.