125 overseas volunteers for winter break dispatched to 14 countries around the world
[Nov 25, 2009]
Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-Soo) begins overseas volunteer activities together with UNESCO.
On the 25th, the 'Cooperative Agreement for Collegiate Overseas Volunteer Activities' was agreed upon with the Korea National Commission for UNESCO (secretary general Jeon, Taek-Soo, left) at the Yeungnam University president's reception hall. This is the third university in the nation following Hongik University and Kyunghee University and the first provincial university to conduct volunteer activities in cooperation with the UN.
Thus, Yeungnam University will send a total of 125 volunteers together with the Korea National Commission for UNESCO and International Workcamp to 14 countries around the world for 2~3 weeks in January. They are in Europe (Turkey), Latin America (Mexico, Peru), Africa (Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya) and Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam).
In addition, the two organizations promised cooperation in training and dispatching Yeungnam University student volunteers, providing data and materials for joint research, guidance on volunteer activities, exchange between workers, joint seminars for overseas university volunteer activities, sharing educational and research materials and facilities, as well as development and operation of various training programs.
In particular, the Korea National Commission for UNESCO has offered to give extra points when reviewing Yeungnam University students who have participated in overseas volunteer activities sponsored by UNESCO. Moreover, the two organizations are scheduled to compose a 'workers council' in order to maintain the mutual cooperation relations and to smooth its specific actions.
On this, Lee, Hyo-Soo, president of Yeungnam University, stated, "This is the 18th group of volunteers going overseas during the winter vacation at Yeungnam University since 2001. Next year, all students are going to be required to take volunteer classes, and through this agreement, we will be able to diversify to different countries around the world in Europe, South America and Africa." He also added, "Having our students experience various cultures and volunteering with local NGOs will greatly contribute in helping them to grow into 'Y-type talents' that are armed with a cool brain and warm heart.
Jeon, Taek-Soo, secretary general of the Korea National Commission for UNESCO also stated, "In the creative times of the 21st century, individual and national competitiveness will be determined by creativity, and this depends upon an open mind and various experiences. Therefore, I hope that students at Yeungnam University will effectively utilize the overseas volunteer activities opportunities promoted by Korea National Commission for UNESCO, and become Korea's most creative talents."
