KDI School students have been giving back to the Korean community by volunteering to teach English to under-privileged children. The program began in the middle of the Spring semester and has continued despite some challenges with the scheduling. Initially, more than twenty students were involved, helping out students from Vision, Hope and Love School. However with some students graduating and problems with scheduling, that number has been reduced.

The program was coordinated by Ms Shin, a KDI School staff and Vanarith Oum (Cambodia MPP 2012). I also had the privilege of participating in the Program teaching middle school girls from Vision School. I found the experience not only fulfilling but humbling in a certain way. To see students begin to learn from you and using your lessons provided the greatest satisfaction for me. I took the time out to find out from Vanarith what he thought of the volunteer Program. He responded with the following message:

“Volunteering is what I love to do. Being part of the Volunteer English Teaching Program, it allows me not only carry out what I love to do for a good cause, but also a chance to give back to the Korean community. I am very thankful to the Korean people, whose tax money are used to finance my education here at the KDI School”

These are sentiments that are shared by most of the students that are involved in this Program. While it requires a lot of sacrifice to squeeze in extra-curricular work in our already crowded academic schedule, the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life is more than a sufficient reward. The KDI School English teaching volunteers are all honored to have been part of that process, imparting their knowledge to students of all levels. In the course of the program, many of the volunteers have forged attachments that will live long in their lives.

Ultimately, this is what it means to exercise global leadership. It means making a difference where you are required to, even if there are no financial rewards to be gained. This Program makes all of us immensely proud of being a member of the KDI School family. We sincerely hope the next generation of KDI School students keeps alive this privilege of global leadership through the Volunteer English Teaching program.

KDI School has been offering free English classes at Dongdaemun Welfare Center since 2008, where international students volunteer to teach children from low-income families. Acknowledging the positive effect of this community service, Ministry of Education and Technology has recently declared KDI School as an exemplary "Donation School."

By Keith Hamusute (2012 MPP, Zambia)