Jeon Hae-In, Junior, Sogang University student who lives in Ilsan, had volunteered in <after school class ‘the wood have a dream’> operated by World Vision Gyeonggi Welfare Department for a year. “I strongly feel that there was a give and take relationship between the children and me. What I received from the children was happiness through their love. It would be a happy thing to have children who likes me even if it is just one child. However, today’s university students do not like the concept of volunteering itself since volunteering is believed to be a onesided sacrifice.”

She teaches English to children from elementary school to middle school freshmen who can receive private education one a week. “I have been completing a course in teacher education so I can learn how to teach children from this program. But the best thing l get through this voluntary program is keeping the relationship with children. They are always delighted to see me, like me and want to give me something even though I did not do many things for them” she said commenting about fullness of volunteer. However, she has complaints about the children’s educational environment. “Children want to study but they study with different level friends because of the lack of teachers. Therefore I am in agony deciding which level I should match. Especially, because of sensitive young girls because they can be hurt easily.” She expressed the anxiety not being able to provide a better education environment.

▲ A volunteer in a!va are teaching children who suffer from child cancer. photo by Hong Jin-Young.

Angel of volunteer academy, called a!va, operated by Korea Child Cancer Foundation also want support from many university volunteers. University volunteers in a!va help children who suffered or have been suffering from child cancer to study because they stopped their studeis for their long treatment time. Also the volunteers cure their emotionally hurt mind. The voluntary club was started in 2007 and now the six members are teaching the children by one to one. At first many university students applied to this program but the number of applicants declined. Therefore there were children who could not be assigned teachers among the six children. Lee Ji-Hae, a!va office worker, said “We need volunteers who consider children over career and really love children and volunteer continuously. Then I am sure that your life will be valuable. Only you can help others.” She asked for some attention and application from university students.

Many education volunteers say “Whoever has knowledge above high school can give dream and hope to someone with only three hours a week.” Under the this article there are some sentences from Jeon Hae-In e-mail interview to give people who still think volunteering takes a long time and needs professional knowledge and skills. “Um, if you are happy in the society, this means that society gave you something and it would be your turn to make others happy. I believe that if you make others happy, not necessarily through education volunteering, you can spend the best 20s.”