Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech) successfully conducted the Overseas Volunteer Program in the Philippines for a total of six days and eight nights from January 17 to 24. The program was organized by the SeoulTech Division of Community Engagement and Volunteering (STCEV), a dedicated social service organization, under the theme of 'Bridging Gaps, Building Futures.'

The Overseas Volunteer Program was planned and supervised by the Office of Student Affairs and STCEV and derives from an agreement signed in 2022 between SeoulTech's International Exchange Office and UST Angelicum College in Quezon City, the Philippines. This program was the second time the program has gone ahead following its opening last year.

The Overseas Volunteer Program is a bilingual program for institutions participating in the Re-entry Education Agenda for the Poor (REAP) program, which is run by Angelicum College. The REAP program provides free basic education to low-income, out- of-school children, adolescents, and young adults in the Philippines who are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. The Overseas Volunteer Program is a collaborative initiative between students from Seoul Institute of Technology and Angelicum University's Korean Sejong Institute. The program includes Korean language and science education, as well as lessons on Korean culture. It garnered significant interest and positive responses from Filipino students.

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Classes were held in Manila, The Philippines, at the Laura Vicuña Foundation and the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Sienna, both of which are Angelicum's REAP program partners. The 20 students from SeoulTech were organized into various teams, each based on educational and cultural themes. Two educational volunteer teams were formed. The Moa Moa Team provided Korean language education delivered through the use of K-content such as K-dramas and K-pop. It also gave lessons in Tagalog language. Eco-friendly science experiments were conducted by the Eco- Friendly Team.

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The two Korean Culture Teams offered experiences in Korean traditional culture. The Munbangsau Team provided lessons on calligraphy, foil, and tea ceremony, while the Cultural President Team gave lessons on Korean culture through fairy and folk tales. The You-US Team was responsible for filming, editing, and assisting in classes. They filmed the classes so that highlights of the classes have been made after the program finished. This year's Overseas Volunteer Program was designed to have a positive impact on the local community through close collaboration between the partner organizations. SeoulTech students who participated in the program planned the educational and cultural exchange contents themselves, with local mentees giving the program a satisfaction rating of 4.96 out of 5. The program achieved great results in increasing the sense of community and participation, and bridging cultural and social gaps.

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Dr. Taehee Kim, Deputy Chief of the Office of International Affairs (Professor of Public Administration), who served as a mentor for the Overseas Volunteer Program, said, "I hope that the volunteering experience in the Philippines allowed the students to expand their global perspective and grow by communicating and cooperating with people with different cultures and values."

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Reporter,

Seunghoe Koo

rokeet@seoultech.ac.kr