Chonnam National University (CNU) has been conducting volunteer activities in Laos since December 26, 2024 as part of its “Overseas Volunteering for Human-Centered Development” initiative.
This winter, CNU’s volunteer program, “One Month in Laos,” brought together 12 students selected through open recruitment and one staff member. The team traveled to Phoudindaeng Village in Vangvieng, where they will stay until January 20, 2025. During their stay, the team is engaging in various activities, including teaching English, renovating local facilities, paving floors at the Youth Union’s shared spaces, and participating in cultural exchange programs.
Guided by the motto “A Small Start to Change the World: From Development to Solidarity,” the volunteers are fully immersing themselves in the local lifestyle, emphasizing respect for the community’s way of life.
Suhee Park, a third-year Korean Language and Literature student, shared her experience: “We don’t have our phones here, but we share laughter and connect face-to-face. Cooking and adapting to the local lifestyle can be inconvenient, but this experience is incredibly valuable. It’s an opportunity to bond with locals and grow through these challenges.”
CNU began its volunteer activities in Laos in 2012, in partnership with the Phoudindaeng Youth Center. Over the past decade, the university has completed 10 missions, including building learning centers in Vangvieng, as part of its commitment to international development and cooperation.