Jeju Island is a volcanic island, dominated by Halla-san (Halla Mountain), a volcano, 1,950 metres high that is the highest mountain in South Korea. The island was created entirely as a result of volcanic eruptions that took place approximately 2 million years ago, from the Tertiary period to the beginning of the Quaternary period during the Cenozoic Era. The island consists chiefly of basalt and lava. It has a humid subtropical climate, warmer than that of the rest of Korea, with four distinct seasons. The value of Jeju Island has been recognized though its designation as a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, as a World Natural Heritage site in 2007 and as a Global Geopark in 2010, making this sub-tropical island the only place on earth to receive all three UNESCO designations in natural sciences. The Island’s temperate climate, natural scenery, and beaches make it a popular tourist destination for South Koreans as well as visitors from other parts of East Asia. Because of the relatively isolated geographical state of the island, the people of Jeju have developed a culture and language that are distinct from those of mainland Korea. Jeju has a matriarchal family structure and a tradition of worshipping s female goddess which is quite rare in the other parts of Korea. The Jeju Chilmoeridang Youngdeung Gut (Shamanistic ritual) which is held in the second lunar month to pray to Grandmother Youngdeung for calm seas, an abundant harvest and a plentiful sea catch, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Local Host Organization:
‘Oe-moeng-a-bang-jan-chi-ma-eul’ is a small seaside community in the foothills of Halla Mountain, which is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Since this is a remote area away from the major tourist destinations, the village is still well preserved and maintains the traditional life style of Jeju Island. Hoever, the village faces issues relating to the decline in its number of residents. In order to deal with the challenge it faces, this community has been developing education programmes for children from the cities, encouraging them to stay at the village and study with local children during the school semester. The village also runs a programme for people to stay in the village and experience the traditions and culture of Jeju Island. For more information please visit www.jeju.go2vil.org (Korean only) This workcamp is financially supported by the Jeju local government.
Type of Work:
Volunteers will construct stone walls traditional to Jeju, using the island’s basalt stone, to protect houses and trees against the strong winds from the sea. Basalt stone walls are one of the representative cultural icons of Jeju Island, though their popularity has declined in the area due to introduction of new modern construction materials. Volunteers will also do work for local residents such as repairing old houses and painting the common facilities of the community. Volunteers will also organize an afternoon school class for local children in which they will have time to present their countries and the World Natural Heritage sites found in their own country.
Culture programme:
Volunteers will climb Halla Mountain, World Natural Heritage site and learn about the values and characteristics of Jeju Island. They will also have time to experience local culture.
Accommodation and Food:
Volunteers will stay at the training centre for youth which is a renovated elementary school located in the middle of a small community in the foothills of Halla Mountain. Volunteers will share big rooms with other volunteers of their gender. The centre is equipped with conference rooms, a kitchen and a big courtyard. Volunteers will take turns to prepare the group’s meals.
Requirements:
Volunteers are required to do manual work and organize educational programmes for local children. Each volunteer is also required to bring materials, such as traditional costumes, to introduce their own country.
Participants will organize Global cultural camp. There will be 20-30 local children in a camp who doesnU t speak English very well. Participants will develop the whole programmes with indoor and outdoor activities such as traditional cultures, sports, choir, drawing, learning workshop and so on. It could be interesting experience to design youth programmes with international participants. It requires creative ideas and full of energy to get local young people exposed to new experiences.
Accomodation & food:
In the local children center / Meals are provided and self-catering.
Location & leisure:
Wando, Jeollanamdo Visiting a beach for swimming and famous tourist sites around.
Participants will organize the youth camp for the local youth summer camp. The sessions in the projects are quite open to participants although there will be various and exciting activities in the river, mountains and play ground. Therefore, participants are required to bring any ideas and activities to make the programs together. The project site has various equipment and facilities related with outdoor and indoor such as music instrument and sports. Participants are required to like to interaction with youth.
Accomodation & food:
In the youth center / Meals are provided and Self-catering
Location & leisure:
Yeongwol, Gangwondo Visiting historical places and exploring caves around
Requirements:
Interest in outdoor activities, Materials to show your culture
There are two main activities during a project. In first, the participants will become a group teacher to introduce their traditional culture with 2030 local youth during the project. Participants will have various intercultural activities among themselves with their own ideas. Any kind of activities and ideas from participants are very welcome such as traditional cultures, sports, play, choir, drawing, learning workshop and so on. In second, participants do voluntary service with a theme of environment conservation in a local village.
Accomodation & food:
In the local children center / Meals are provided
Location & leisure:
Yeongwol, Gangwondo Doing a hike the mountain and swim also visit historical places around
Gongju(http://goo.gl/maps/dfCqn ) is about 150 km away from Seoul and located in the center of South Chungcheong province. This city is an ancient of Baekje Kingdom, where brilliant Baekje culture flourished, Gongju is a city of history, culture and tourism. As Korea’s local society is aging rapidly and the population is decreasing, the host organization called ‘Chungnam education institute’ is focusing on the youths who are isolated from high education opportunities. The host organization believes that local is one of the critical factors supporting Korea’s society. Every year, they open summer school for a local youth in order to teach them the value of local and nature.
Work:
Participants will join in the summer camp as assistants so that they will create new dynamics in the programs by introducing international cultures. Participants simply organize and join in every activities of the summer school such as sports days, role play, and international food days with about 40 young Korean youth. The programs in the summer school are focusing on local community, culture exchange, eco-friendly activities. Participants should be active to be mingled with youth as assistants and also need to introduce their own cultures such as foods, dance and songs. You will learn how to run a youth project, how to work in a large team.
Accommodation and food:
Rooms in the education center / Meals are provided and Self-catering.
Leisure Activities:
Visiting historic place around Gongju.
Location & Terminal:
Gongju, Chungcheongnamdo / Gongju bus terminal.
Requirements:
Very active participation in outdoor activities. Highly interest to be engaged with Youth
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
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