Rural School Students' "Ethiopia Expedition Project" Draws Attention

Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University and Geumbancho Elementary School Hold Send-off and National Flag Raising Ceremony for the Eight-Month Rural Children's Expedition to Ethiopia
First Program of the "Backpack Career Exploration Project: Pursuing Dreams and Seeking Hope" Launched
Supporting Rural Students' Global Competency and Career Exploration through Experiential Learning and International Exchange

The Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University (Director: Lee Sanggil) and Geumbancho Elementary School in Hamyang, Gyeongnam (Principal: Baek Jongpil) held the "Send-off Ceremony and National Flag Raising Ceremony for the Rural Children's Eight-Month Expedition to Ethiopia" at Geumbancho Elementary School on April 23.

Geumbancho students are holding a send-off ceremony for the Ethiopia expedition and taking a commemorative photo. Photo by National Pukyong University

This event marked the first program to launch the "Backpack Career Exploration Project: Pursuing Dreams and Seeking Hope," which is being jointly promoted by the two institutions.

Since 2023, the Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University has been carrying out education donation projects for Geumbancho Elementary School, its partner school. This program was organized to support rural students in process-oriented career exploration and to enhance their global competencies.

All 14 students of Geumbancho Elementary School will embark on an eight-month journey, starting with the send-off ceremony and the Ethiopian flag raising event. Their activities will include research and hands-on experiences related to Ethiopia, culminating in an on-site visit to the country.

During the first semester, students will engage in research activities about Ethiopia. In May, Hamdi Abdurhman Ahmed, a professor at Dong-Eui University and a consulting committee member of the Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University, will visit Geumbancho Elementary School to provide direct instruction about Ethiopian culture, including its geography, cuisine, education, traditions, and language.

In June, the Ethiopian ambassador to Korea is scheduled to visit Geumbancho Elementary School to deliver a special lecture and participate in exchange activities.

From the second semester, students will begin full-scale preparations for their expedition to Ethiopia. They will create materials for the trip, such as destinations, travel routes, people to meet, and key questions to ask. In November, they plan to visit Ethiopia in person to participate in experiential learning, cultural exchange, and volunteer activities.

Lee Sanggil, Director of the Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University, stated, "I hope this valuable opportunity allows rural school students to expand their potential by connecting with the world, develop a sense of responsibility and initiative, and grow as global citizens with a broad perspective."

The Education Donation Hub Support Center at National Pukyong University plans to continue developing and implementing customized education donation models for island, remote, and rural schools in order to bridge regional education gaps and provide diverse career exploration opportunities.