The greatest hardship for a novice volunteer worker is finding an adequate workplace or project. The choice varies from international workforces demanding fees from its participants to reading in English once in a while to children in the local area. It is essential that one finds a satisfying occupation that is also within ones capabilities and willingness to help out. Here we have four international-scale volunteer works, one of which requires a degree of professionalism and one where anyone local to Daejeon may participate.

2013 KOFAC Undergraduate Global Science Creativity Fellowship: Laos Meets Water of Life
In this program, the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOFAC) is offering undergraduates the opportunity to participate in a global cooperation to tackle modern scientific issues. From August 6 to 11, the program will take place in Laos, the least developed country as designated by the UN, and the participants will be assisting with stimulating scientific development aimed at national development. The specifics include exposing science and similar academic activities to local elementary school students, cultural exchange, visiting official development assistance related facilities, and providing portable water filters. Previous participants have given positive reviews and the program itself is fully funded by KOFAC. Since the service is associated with development, the focus will be on training the participants to actively help alleviate the stress from underdevelopment and deficiency in science and technology. Applications are taken for groups of three or four, who must come up with a general list of services they wish to provide as well. For more information, visit the KOFAC homepage, but hurry - the application is due this month!

Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers
Happy Move is an initiative sponsored and coordinated by the motor group KIA. The program takes place biannually, conveniently during the summer and winter breaks, in various countries. After applying for a country they wish to work in, the volunteers receive an orientation and start environmental, local, medical, or culinary work depending on the country the service takes place in. This summer, the project takes place in China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Many college students in Korea apply for this project and it is highly likely that someone you know has either already applied or have been to one of the projects; it isn’t surprising since not only is it a splendid chance to travel abroad and encounter other cultures, but also one to make long-lasting friendships with students from other Korean colleges. The project works alongside other programs from KIA that aim to provide help to those in need and an education to the volunteers in the realm of international activities and leadership. All fees are provided for and the program lasts around two weeks, which can vary depending on the country. Unfortunately, the application for this summer has already come to an end. However, the application for this winter is approaching and planning for an application early on can never hurt.

Global 2013 – Share Hope Foreign Volunteer Workers:
The Daejeon Volunteer Work Support Center (DVWSC) has started a project lasting to the year of 2017 where a team of 23 skilled volunteers will be sent to Bandung, Indonesia to help locals suffering from poverty, promoting communication and cultural interactions as well as improving the society’s independence and adaptability. This project is an effort from Daejeon to participate in solving problems of the global neighborhood and educating others about national and social ignorance towards poverty, diseases, and disasters, which pose real life-threats to the inhabitants of areas of concern. Since the work is professional, the applicants with a specialty in one of the four areas, hygiene and medical abilities, environmental improvement, unusual profession, or communications and culture, are preferred. Also, the participants must have a keen interest in and understanding of foreign volunteer work. The application for this year’s journey has already closed in early May, but do not be dismayed. This project obviously requires great dedication and skills and is undoubtedly of greater caliber in the list, so it would be wise to start preparing as soon as possible. For more information, visit the DVWSC website (http://nanumi.metro.daejeon.kr).

Sending a Dream-ket
Then again, helping those abroad need not be all about airplanes and meeting people who speak languages you cannot make out heads or tails of. This volunteer work takes place in local Daejeon and aims to help children suffering from poverty and the difficult environment in Bandung, Indonesia. As you may have already guessed, this project is also coordinated by DVWSC and is in tandem with the more grandiose project mentioned above. A Dream-ket is a pocket containing stationaries and basic necessity goods, which will be sent to children in the area where the Share Hope event will take place. In addition to giving physical aid, the participating groups will be writing a “hope letter,” which is placed within each pocket before being sent. In this letter, the participants write loving words of encouragement and hope for those children. The event will be held on June 1 at the East Daejeon Civilian Park and will begin at 10:30 a.m. for about two hours. Family participation is encouraged, and jobs are given out on a first-come, first-served basis so do not be idle - early birds will have a definite advantage.