Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Technology Center Operates 'DIY Online Healing Agriculture Experience Program' for Elementary School Students

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] The Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Technology Center is operating a 'DIY Online Healing Agriculture Experience Program' that allows elementary school students, who are spending more time indoors due to COVID-19, to create their own experience products such as potted plants and traditional fermented sauces while enjoying therapeutic benefits using rural resources.

The program, conducted jointly with the Suwon Office of Education, is linked with schools' online classes. Agricultural experience materials are provided to children, who then watch video files directly produced on the farms and participate in the experience program themselves at school or home.

Students will experience one of 20 programs from 20 non-face-to-face experience farms throughout the province via online, including ▲planting ivy heart-shaped plants ▲making buckwheat soybean paste ▲making insect chocolate sandwiches/skewers ▲non-face-to-face succulent kits ▲making coffee drip bag filial piety gifts, and will learn about agriculture through these activities.

The program is scheduled to run from the 8th through the 30th of this month for 1,500 students from 60 classes in 10 elementary schools throughout the province.

Gyeonggi Province expanded the experience program after receiving strong positive response from operating it in April for 100 members of the Gyeonggi Province Dream Cub Reporters.

Jo Geum-soon, Director of the Rural Resources Division at the Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Technology Center, said, "Student stress has increased due to the spread of COVID-19, and farm operators' sales have declined due to fewer experience visitors. We hope this program will provide students with an opportunity to heal and give farm operators a chance to promote their businesses and increase sales."