College Students Transplant a 'Flower Garden' into a Dull Neighborhood... Genuine Comfort through Dongseo University Mural Painting Volunteer Work

The gloomy wall has become bright and radiant

"Warming hearts saddened by COVID-19"

The Dongseo University Student Council and volunteers from the Student and Employment Support Office's Social Service Center participated in a mural painting volunteer activity in Jurye-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan. [Image source=Dongseo University]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] In a world gloomy from the pandemic, is there anything that can brighten up the neighborhood? What kind of ‘genuine’ event can comfort the residents?

University students decided to paint flowers on the walls of houses in the neighborhood. They thought the villagers would be delighted to receive a bright ‘flower garden’ as a gift.

Students from Dongseo University (President Jang Je-guk) recently volunteered to paint murals on the exterior walls of houses in an alley next to the Jurye 3-dong Community Center in Sasang-gu, Busan.

A total of 15 student council members and 10 mural volunteer group members gathered. It was a volunteer activity aimed at improving the environment of the village surrounding the school.

The motivation was a kind-hearted event idea to comfort the hearts of local residents who had become depressed due to COVID-19, even if just a little.

The students, who acted as painters and ‘farmers’ holding flowers, worked hard for quite a long time, but burst into smiles the moment the painted flower bed was completed.

The students unanimously said that despite the difficulties, the interest of the residents and encouraging words thrown by passersby made it worthwhile.

Kim Hong-gyu, president of the student council (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering), who participated in the volunteer work, said, “We tried to include stories in the mural paintings, and I hope people enjoy and imagine beautiful things when they see the pictures we painted.”

The student council and the Social Service Center of the Student and Employment Support Office said they plan to continue the project of donating talents through mural volunteering and fostering a volunteer mindset.