Last week, we shared how ISA students, participants, and staff in North Africa and the Middle East spent their ISA volunteer days supporting refugees in their abroad communities of Meknes, Morocco and Amman, Jordan. This week, we highlight ISA volunteer day events in Asia.
This fall in Seoul, South Korea, ISA students were able to give back through assisting low-income families safely heat their homes this winter as well as plant trees in Noeul Park. While ISA students can study ecological cities, ecological healing and restoration, and environmental health epidemiology in the classroom, there is so much to give, share, and learn when volunteering in your local community.
Asia
Seoul, South Korea
On November 19th, ISA Seoul students alongside Konkuk University students delivered free charcoal briquettes to underprivileged homes in their community.
During the winter months, some families in Seoul cannot afford costly gas to heat their homes. Burning charcoal briquettes is a safe alternative to burning firewood for heat, as smoke and emissions from burning firewood indoors can be harmful to families.
On November 21st, ISA Seoul students collaborated with a local NGO to plant trees and potted plants in the World Cup Park.
Noeul Park was built in 2002 to commemorate the 17th FIFA World Cup. This park had previously been an unsanitary landfill that held over 92 million tons of garbage. It has now been turned into a park over an area of 272,000 square meters with five smaller parks.
ISA students were able to learn about environmental issues that face Korea. After learning about the history of the park, students contributed to this green space by collecting acorns from trees and planting them in small pots as well as planting a variety of native trees.
In addition to ISA volunteer days in Asia, ISA Service-Learning offers full-time and Study + Service-Learning programs in Malavli and Mumbai, India. ISA Service-Learning connects dedicated people with over 100 local non-profit organizations, schools and clinics that have identified needs and projects to which participants can contribute their time and strengths. Through guided reflection, ISA Service-Learning programs will allow participants to understand how communities across the globe grapple with the complexities of real-world issues.
