Panchkhal students learning Taekwondo and Korean culture

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 28: A team of students from Kwangwoon University of South Korea carried out voluntary activities such as Taekwondo and Information Technology (IT) education, Korean culture exchange, among others, at Azad Secondary School from July 22-26. The school is located in the Panchkhal Municipality of Kavrepalanchowk district. 

According to Um Hong Gil Human Foundation (UHGHF), 20 students from Kwangwoon University's International Volunteer team took part in various volunteer activities and held interactions with the Nepali students. Legendary South Korean mountaineer and philanthropist Captain Um Hong Gil was also with the students.

Established in 1951, Azad Secondary School is a community school where more than 940 students from kindergarten to high school level study. Majority of the students are from the underprivileged Danuwar community.

This school was badly damaged by April 2015 earthquake. Seventeen of the 26 classrooms were damaged, and while students were continuing their studies in hazardous and temporary buildings. On the recommendation of then District Education Office of Kavrepalanchowk,  Korean social organisation UHGHF supported the school with new RCC building with sufficient child-friendly furniture and gender-friendly wash facility. 

The Korean volunteer students were divided into four teams to provide education on Korean language and Korean culture, Taekwondo, IT education, and Health and Hygiene education.They also paint trees to control pests, clean up the school after the classes with the Nepali students to improve the learning environment. On July 25, they had a traditional Korean fun playing games with around 500 students by holding a sports competition and a flea market.

"With the activities of Korean volunteer students and UHGHF, our students are having a fun and beneficial experience to become a global citizen," said Pralhad Timilsina, the principal of the school. "We hope that various programs will continue to be carried out through continuous exchanges in the future as well."

Captain Um Hong Gil, the Executive Director of UHGHF, said that it was a valuable opportunity for the 14th Human School students to interact with the senior students from Korea and broaden their horizons.

UHGHF, a charity organisation, has been working in the education sector of remote parts of Nepal since 2009. It supports community schools with its infrastructural development to ensure them with quality education. The veteran alpinist and philanthropist Captain Um Hong Gil is the founder of this organisation.