Gyeonggi Province Holds 2019 Youth Overseas Volunteer Corps Launch Ceremony

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim A-hyun] Gyeonggi Province held the launch ceremony for the '2019 Gyeonggi Province Youth Overseas Volunteer Corps' on the 8th at the Gyeonggi Province Human Resources Development Institute, with approximately 170 attendees including Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, civil servants, representatives from six NGOs and universities participating as volunteer organizations, and youth volunteer corps members.

The launch ceremony proceeded in the following order: opening remarks by Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, introductions of volunteer activities by the six participating NGOs and universities including ▲Korea-Mongolia Exchange Promotion Association ▲Korea Aerospace University ▲Seoul International Goodwill Association ▲TVD Social Cooperative ▲Hankook University of Foreign Studies ▲Induk University, presentation of appointment certificates, member oath, and commemorative photography.

One hundred fifty young volunteers selected as youth overseas volunteers through public recruitment conducted from March 19 to April 2 will be dispatched to developing countries including Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos for two weeks during the second half of this year to conduct overseas volunteer activities.

The 'Gyeonggi Province Youth Overseas Volunteer Corps' project is a pilot initiative being implemented by the province for the first time this year to provide young people with opportunities to contribute to the international community through overseas volunteer work and explore employment opportunities.

The province plans to evaluate the outcomes of this year's project and gradually expand the project scale, thereby supporting more young people to view the world from a broader perspective through overseas volunteer activities.

Additionally, by alleviating economic burdens for participating youth, the province plans to enable young people from more diverse fields to participate in overseas volunteer work.

Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young stated, "The Gyeonggi Province Youth Overseas Volunteer Corps is a project being promoted to nurture global young talent that can contribute to international peace and create 'Gyeonggi Province that gives hope to young people.'" She added, "I hope that through overseas volunteer work, young people can learn to view the world from a broader perspective and develop compassion."