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University students' Volunteering

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt.22:39)

As society has developed, many people complain of a feeling of alienation and a loss of a sense of identity. Furthermore, it increases the poor in spirit. At this point, what should we do? We can solve it by having volunteer activities. It makes a better society by sharing love with each other.

The culture of giving is spreading all over the world. More and more people are donating their time to serve as volunteers. However, there also are students who haven’t volunteered. They say, “I really want to but I have no time,” “I don’t know what I should do,” and “It looks difficult.” Although you may be like those students, don’t worry. There are volunteer activities in which KMU students can serve.



▶Keimyung 1% Love Sharing Volunteer (KLSV)

KMU began the Keimyung 1% Love Sharing Movement to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Keimyung’s founding as a Christian university in January 2004. Executive staff and professors voluntarily donate 1% of their monthly salary to help the poor, the disabled, and the disadvantaged. These donation activities are organized by the chaplain’s office. A new part of that movement, the “Keimyung 1% Love Sharing Volunteers” started in May 2006.
The members of KLSV attend lectures about welfare and many occasions like “Green Stores,” which sells recycled children’s products. In addition, they visit homes for the aged and give some presents to the poor. Furthermore, if natural disasters break out suddenly, they will quickly be there. It means that KMU plays an important role in donation activities.
Minister Kim Mun-Young in the chaplain’s office said, “I want to give students many chances to volunteer and know what a warm heart is.” All KMU students can apply for it. 100 students can be volunteers in 2007. In addition, there is certification.

- Service Period: Two semesters
- Time for Application: The chaplain’s office puts information about the method of application on the KMU homepage at the beginning of every year, and hangs posters on the wall. After you download and write an application, you have to submit it to the chaplain’s office in person.
- Selection Standard: Any KMU student
- More Information: The chaplain’s office (580-6010~12), kmu1015@kmu.ac.kr or http://1pro.kmu.ac.kr
Globalization and International Volunteerism
"Globalization," "global village," and "global citizen" are very familiar words to our ears, reminding us that the world is now one conglomerated village, and that we are its villagers. The development of transportation such as airplanes and trains enables us to travel far more frequently and faster than ever in human history, as if national borders only exist on the map. 21st century people are extremely mobile, coming in contact with oth
er peoples and their cultures.

Additionally, the innovation of modern technology such as the Internet, fax and phone brings people together across all nationalities and exposes them to world news. When we watch CNN (Cable News Network), we can see all these reporters covering the news from every corner of the world. Information on the Iraqi war and its casualties and the floods of Indonesia and its victims is readily available to us. Living in this era, therefore, we naturally develop interest in and concern for fellow global citizens, especially for their plights caused by natural or human made disasters.

This fluid exchange with one another teaches us one undeniable truth: that our lives are intricately interwoven, and that we share a common fate. For example, global warming is a serious crisis threatening the life of the every living being and eco-system of this planet. Carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, is mostly generated by the vehicles and factories of developing countries which cannot yet afford to consider air pollution and its aftermath. The decrease of trees, which is due to the growing demand of developed countries for paper goods and the economic need of developing countries, is also a contributing factor to global warming. Unless we come up with a solution that benefits every one involved in this transaction, sooner or later, our global village will experience irrecoverable damage.
The aforementioned emphasis on shared identity and destiny as global citizens tells us that something must be done with a sense of urgency, and that we all have to get involved. There are many ways to distribute our time, such as giving service and expertise to needy countries such as Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, etc. Korea, once the recipient of international aid, has become an economically viable country and has returned the favor to others in need.

In this historical trend, college students are extremely enthusiastic about going abroad as volunteers, for they want to serve others and explore their cultures, too. They try to seize this opportunity via their college volunteering programs, organizations such as Good Neighbors International, World Vision, UNICEF, the Red Cross, and the Korean International Cooperation Agency. Related books and Internet sites can be easily found. As we read this article, we may be inspired to think about our global neighbors, desperately waiting for much needed aid, to fortify our identity as global villagers and perform our duty accordingly. In doing so, we will know that, as we help others, we help ourselves.
▶ Overseas Volunteers Corps

Keimyung University has been active in assisting students who want to help other people in economically less developed countries since 2002. Keimyung University usually sends volunteers to Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, and China. There are various activities: construction of new libraries or class rooms, cultural events (taekwondo, magic events, balloon art, games, and activities), and cultural experiences. It is a wonderful opportunity not only to learn about another country’s culture and lifestyle but also to cultivate the minds of our country’s future leaders by helping other people. The volunteers pay only 500,000 won because KMU pays 70% of all expenses.

- Period: About two weeks in vacation (summer or winter)
- Time for Application: April and October
- Selection Standard: University grades, related job experience (certification, record of winning a prize), ability in foreign languages, and other special abilities (taekwondo, dancing, painting, etc.)
- More Information: Student Support Team (053-580-6084). Specific information about the volunteer program will be updated on the student services website (www.kmu.ac.kr) this semester.



▶ Volunteer Chapel

One of Keimyung University’s educational goals is to raise Christian leaders. Therefore, KMU requires all freshmen to take an obligatory chapel course every week. However, the chapel had trouble giving them the proper Christian identity and sprit of the school.
To solve the problem, the chaplain’s office made the chapel more fun and attractive. From the second semester 2004, English Chapel, Faith Chapel, and Choir Chapel were added to the original Open Chapel. From 2006, the chaplain’s office added a new chapel, “Volunteer Chapel.”
Volunteer Chapel has two parts, taking a lecture and volunteering. During the first five weeks, students take lectures about the meaning of volunteering and the way of serving as a volunteer. Next, they volunteer for 10 weeks in the Keimyung 1% Love Sharing Movement and organizations for social welfare in Daegu.

- Service Period: One semester
- Time for Application: When you take the Open Chapel, in the first week, you can change your Open Chapel to Volunteer Chapel.
- Selection Standard: All KMU freshmen in 2007 and students who haven’t taken chapel can apply for the Volunteer Chapel.
- More Information: The chaplain’s office (580-6010~12)



▶ CCAP

CCAP is a program in which Korean Interpretation Volunteers (KIVs) and Cultural Exchange Volunteers (CEVs) introduce a diversity of cultures from around the world to Korean youth. They visit elementary, middle, and high schools, and hold culture classes for understanding other countries and their cultures. It is organized by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and supported by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. On November 3, 2005, Keimyung University was selected to cooperate in the CCAP (if you want more information, refer to the article in the Gazette’s webzine http://.gokmu.com). After CEVs and KIVs have a preparation period for 15 days, they introduce the culture of the CEVs’ countries in various ways such as PowerPoint, music, and games.
From this semester, the Office of International affairs will select more CEVs and KIVs, as the number of schools which the volunteers visit will increase by more than 10. In addition, there is certification. CEVs can not only have the opportunity to experience and understand Korean culture and society but also make a favorable impression on Koreans. KIVs can have worthwhile experience as volunteers and an improvement of their interpretation ability.

- Service Period: One semester
- Time for Application: The beginning of every semester
- Selection Standard: An interview or a written application. Information about the recruitment of CEVs and KIVs is posted on the KMU website (www.kmu.ac.kr).
- More Information: The Office of International affairs (053-580-6024), http://ccap.unesco.or.kr, or http://club.cyworld.com/Daegu-CCAP



▶ Dalseo Healthy Family Support Center (DHFC)

Dalseo Healthy Family Support Center (DHFC) is a multi-center that solves family problems by counseling and having lectures and giving support to people who have trouble making a healthy family. The volunteers in the DHFC are divided into Korean teaching volunteers for foreign women, family volunteers, volunteers looking after babies, volunteers for administrative tasks, and help for the office.
The director of the DHFC, Kim Sun-Mi, said, “People have to volunteer with enthusiasm and should not serve for grades or certain purposes. Volunteers need to think of the situations of the poor or disabled.”

- Service Period: The period is flexible, as the DHFC needs volunteers to serve on either a regular or occasional basis. In addition, if you want to volunteer here, check this homepage (www.dhfc.or.kr) frequently. If you hope to take part for a long time, you have to drop by and apply.
- Time for Application: It is flexible. The DHFC puts information about the method of application for each volunteer activity on the KMU homepage and its own homepage.
- Selection Standard: Anyone. All KMU students including students who dropped out of the university temporarily or who have graduated can take part in the activities.
- More Information: Visit the DHFC in B53-1 Baekeun Hall (580-6815~6) or www.dhfc.or.kr



▶ The Volunteer Program in the International Lounge

The International Lounge and the local community center offer volunteer activities to members of Keimyung University (including exchange students, Korean students, and foreign teachers). It brings together children from a child welfare institution in the local community and members of KMU. The Keimyung members teach English to the children through diverse games and activities. Last year, they had fun activities not only twice a month but also on special days like Halloween and Christmas.

- Service Period: One semester or more
- Time for Application: The beginning of every semester
- Selection Standard: Any KMU people who sign up for the volunteer program on the International Lounge’s webpage
- More Information: The International Lounge (053-580-6327), http://intlcenter.kmu.ac.kr/



▶ Groups in the Department of Social Welfare

It is a Korean compound word of the sun and a pine which is always green. It signifies volunteers. The members of the academy are divided into a team for children and a team for the aged. Twice a month, they visit social welfare facilities and conduct their own programs (folding paper, sports, and painting). In addition, they have a meeting twice a month to study social welfare and develop new programs. The academy’s merit is the fact that you can be a member if your major is different. In addition, you can do volunteer work with students who major in social welfare.

- Time for Application: The beginning of every semester
- Selection Standard: Anyone who has a passion for volunteering and can do constant activity as a member. However, they select only 10% of the members of the group from applicants from other departments.
- More Information: The chief of the society, Sin Min-seok (010-4408-0721), http://kmudhs.cyworld.com



“Our Heart When We are with Friends”

Besides Deunhaesol, KMU has many other groups for volunteer activities. They are open to only the members of their departments or faculties: Neulnaram, Echo, Friend, Open Clinic, Nanuri, Haemoe, and Emmanus. We can join many clubs for volunteering: Noksac Club, Nokum Volunteers, Rover Club, Wonyaong Club, R.C.Y, Free-Will, and SMC.

In brief, Keimyung University has many opportunities for volunteer activities. According to data from the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, about 340,000 Koreans did volunteer work last year. The figure increased by 49% compared with 2004. The volunteer rate of young people is overwhelmingly high: 6 out of 10 volunteers were teenagers or in their twenties. The number of volunteers increased, but the hours of volunteer time decreased. According to the data from 2001 to 2004, the students who did volunteer work steadily more than once a month were not even 5%.
This figure resulted from the recognition that volunteer work is one of the preparation courses for employment. Job Korea(the on line portal site for employment) analyzed 185,613 job postings, with the result that enterprises which prefer an applicant who has done volunteer work were 6.7% (12,992 cases out of the job postings). The cases increased by about 3.5% compared with last winter. Indeed, many enterprises are giving additional points to applicants who have volunteer experience.
Moreover, volunteering is essential for graduation at some universities. To university students, volunteering is changing into an assignment for their graduation. That is, the meaning of “volunteer” has been distorted. It is not the original meaning “work and serve others without being paid for it.” This reality makes the people who really need the help of volunteers close their minds. Unknowingly, university students may think that volunteer work is just a tool for their future. The matter is serious because they may misunderstand volunteering when they become contributing members of society.
Some volunteers thank God and think that they are happy because they are different from underprivileged or disabled people. However, as soon as we think that, the underprivileged or disabled people become really poor because that thought divides them from us. They may be satisfied with their environment. However, our pity alienates them from us. They hope that we will look at them the same. They just need our help. Is there a person who doesn’t need any help from others?
The attitude of a volunteer should be the same as our heart when we are with friends. Friends help each other and keep learning together. Volunteering is sharing, learning together, and adding happiness. Volunteer service is a precious experience with friends, not for profit. Do not become an applicant because of the Korean employment war. The more you volunteer with this attitude, the more you can be rich of heart.