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

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] The Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Technology Center is operating a 'DIY Online Healing Agriculture Experience Program' for elementary students whose indoor activities have increased due to COVID-19, allowing them to heal while creating their own experience products such as making pots and traditional sauces utilizing rural resources.

This program, conducted jointly with the Suwon Education Support Office, is coordinated with school online classes. Students are provided with agricultural experience materials, and then participate in the program by watching video files directly produced on farms at school or at home, experiencing the program themselves.

Students will experience one of 20 programs from 20 non-contact experience-capable farms in the province through online, including ▲planting ivy heart decoration plants ▲making buckwheat soy sauce ▲making insect chocolate sandwiches/skewers ▲non-contact succulent kits ▲making coffee drip bag filial piety gifts, while learning about agriculture.

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

Gyeonggi Province expanded the experience program after operating it for 100 members of the Gyeonggi Province Dream Tree Reporters in April and receiving enthusiastic response.

Jo Geum-sun, head of the Rural Resources Division at the Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Technology Center, said, "Student stress is increasing due to the spread of COVID-19, and farm households are facing reduced farm sales due to a decrease in experience visitors," adding "Through this program, we hope this becomes an opportunity for students to heal and an opportunity for farm owners to promote and increase sales."