UNA Exchange

Three months volunteering in Korea

Having my arms scratched up by metal buckets full of concrete whilst singing away building classroom walls was the initial step to getting me hooked. After international projects in West Africa, weekends digging trails in country parks, setting up student societies, being seduced by training programmes and ending up painted green, dancing away on a farm in the middle of Wales, I can definitely say I hand delivered my soul to the cause a long time ago. I’ve co-led and led my very own team of international agents of change. Amidst the puppets, paint and parties I made some great friends and developed invaluable personal skills along the way.

Most recently I was Medium Term Volunteer (MTV) in South Korea for three months teaching English, drama and games to 7-14 year olds in two alternative schools in the northern district Paju-si. I worked alongside another volunteer from Finland and as a team we embarked upon our project.

Living and working in a different culture and country gives you an insight into a society, which you wouldn’t have as a tourist. I was taken in by a host home and immersed in a haze of newness – Buddhist temples, basketball, farming, traditional drumming and Hangeul (Korean language). After running on a few hours sleep, jet lag, plus a very healthy dollop of that affliction we’re all tarnished with - good ol’ British politeness - I finally settled into a less hectic schedule and enjoyed the land of neon signs where history and modernity stand side by side.

We joined the secondary school on a week-long peace pilgrimage led by two ordained monks. We walked amongst rice fields, lakesides, roads and over mountains. We passed elderly men farming, women picking chillies, and old men drinking soju in the shade. All the way we were learning about the struggle for tolerance, peace and the kindness of human nature. The experience opened my eyes to Korea, gave us a chance to bond with the students and I was truly humbled by people’s kindness, for all our food was donated.

Back at school, our classes were full of blindfolds, role-plays, icebreakers, drawing and team building games. Each day was different, for you have to be flexible to adapt to the different abilities within the class. The students were the best teachers, they taught me to simplify, be patient and enjoy the moment. Following that we were able to have a great Sports Day resulting in all the dads falling over the finish line in the relay, bake apple pie, harvest chestnuts and laugh at ourselves.

The project culminated with the students putting everything they’d learnt into a play in English – Snow White. They painted the scenery, made their costumes and memorised their lines.

With an MTV project you get to see the day-by-day progress over time. I saw shy children get up in front of their peers and family and perform their hearts out.

With the students help I was able to read and converse in basic Hangeul, enough to travel around for a month after the project. Volunteering enables you to take an active role in giving back to the community, and a true understanding of citizenship. It enables you to continually learn and challenge yourself and others.

Lindsey Gowlett, 2006