Reading Together: Chonnam National University and the Citizens of Gwangju-Jeonnam

Chonnam National University hosted the '2023 Gwangju-Jeonnam Reading and Talking' initiative, a community-wide reading campaign aimed at promoting a culture of reading and fostering a shared cultural identity within the region. This initiative encourages residents of Gwangju and Jeonnam to read a selected book together, participate in discussions, and engage in various cultural activities, with the goal of enhancing the local reading culture and creating a sense of community.

The reading campaign aims to inspire citizens to develop a love for reading and actively engage in intellectual dialogue. By reading and discussing the same book, participants share cultural experiences and contribute to the formation of an integrated community culture that encourages open communication and collective growth.

As part of this initiative, a 'Talk Concert with the Author' event was held, featuring Jeong Ji-a, the author of the 2023 selected book "The Diary of the Liberation of My Father." This special event provided citizens with the unique opportunity to engage directly with the author, deepening their understanding of the book and enhancing their overall reading experience. The conversation with Jeong Ji-a allowed participants to discuss the themes and background of the book freely, fostering meaningful dialogue and enriching the reading culture in the region.

This event not only sparked interest in reading but also played a significant role in encouraging communication within the community, contributing to the development of a stronger, more connected society.

Creativity Camp at the Child Welfare Facility

Chonnam National University conducted a creativity camp at the Gwangju Child Welfare Facility, Yeongsinwon, where participating children learned to creatively solve problems using the TRIZ methodology. This experience allowed them to enhance their social skills and engage in collaborative opportunities. The TRIZ program contributes to providing necessary educational opportunities to underprivileged children through a basic service approach, supporting their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

※ Evidence: [Attachment]Creativity Camp at Gwangju Yeongsinwon (Child Welfare Facility)


Electric Vehicle Assembly Program at the Community Child Center

Chonnam National University conducted a program titled "The Future with Electricity" at the Gwangju Jooan Community Child Center, focusing on renewable energy and electric vehicles. The children who participated in this program had the opportunity to learn the principles of renewable energy and understand the concept and necessity of electric vehicles. Activities included explanations about solar energy and the creation of electric vehicle kits, allowing children to learn through hands-on experience.

This program contributes to providing essential educational opportunities for disadvantaged children through a basic service approach, enhancing their scientific understanding and problem-solving abilities.

※ Evidence: [Attachment]Electric Vehicle Assembly Program at the Community Child Center


Proper Eating Habit Education at the Local Child Center

Chonnam National University conducted an educational program titled "Strong and Green Food Therapy" at the Gwangju Juan Child Center, aimed at preventing picky eating and fostering healthy eating habits. The children who participated in this program had the opportunity to explore various food ingredients and learn about healthy eating that considers the environment through cooking practice. Through nutrition education, the children's awareness of their eating habits significantly improved, and the bond between learners and educators was strengthened.

Nutrition education is particularly important for marginalized groups. These individuals often face economic constraints that make it difficult for them to purchase nutritious food, which can lead to health issues. Nutrition education plays a crucial role in helping these children form healthy eating habits and make informed food choices.


※ Evidence: [Attachment]Proper Eating Habit Education at the Local Child Center

Socialization Life Education for Socially Disadvantaged Groups

Chonnam National University implemented the "Socialization Life Education Program for Socially Disadvantaged Groups" at the Gwangcheon Community Child Center, Buk-gu Senior Citizen Comprehensive Welfare Center, and Talmud Community Child Center. This program aimed to enhance the social adaptability and self-sufficiency of both children and seniors through education in Korean history, the Korean language, IT skills, and life law.

The children engaged in Korean history and spelling education, which increased their interest in learning and provided them with enjoyable hands-on experiences. Meanwhile, the seniors learned to use digital devices necessary for daily life through IT education, enhancing their convenience in everyday activities.

This program contributes to providing essential education and socialization opportunities for socially disadvantaged children and seniors through a basic service approach, supporting their independence and social adaptation.

※ Evidence: [Attachment]Socialization Life Education for Socially Disadvantaged Groups.

Healthy Day Project for Community Child Center

Chonnam National University conducted a program called "Healthy Day Project" at the Mentor Community Child Center, focusing on promoting healthy eating habits and preventing high sugar intake. Participating children explored various food ingredients, learned about nutrition through hands-on cooking experiences, and gained an understanding of traditional Korean foods like kimchi. Through this program, the children's awareness of healthy eating increased, and positive changes in their dietary habits, such as reduced consumption of high-sugar and instant foods, were observed.

This program is crucial for underprivileged children who often face challenges in accessing nutritious food due to economic constraints. Nutrition education plays a vital role in helping these children form healthy eating habits and make better food choices, which ultimately supports their overall health and well-being.

※ Evidence: [Attachment]Healthy Day Project for Community Child Center

Outreach Legal Service

Chonnam National University Legal Clinic provides free legal consultation services, reaching out to underprivileged and local residents in need of legal assistance. This service has significantly contributed to resolving long-standing issues faced by residents who lacked legal knowledge. The consultations cover everyday legal disputes, such as issues regarding unpaid bills at a restaurant, permission to cross private property, and the use of farmland access roads. Residents have expressed great satisfaction with the support they received.

This free consultation, particularly for residents in areas with limited legal infrastructure, serves as a vital basic service for the underprivileged to resolve their legal problems. Moving forward, Chonnam National University plans to expand its legal consultation services to include public interest litigation support.

※ Evidence: [News Article] Outreach Legal Service https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=30&key=4268


Media Literacy Education for Students with Developmental Disabilities

Chonnam National University's Center for Disability Education and Welfare conducted media literacy education for students with developmental disabilities residing in special schools and child care facilities in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions. This program aimed to reduce digital exclusion among disadvantaged students by improving their access to media. Through tailored education on the use of media applications, students enhanced their digital skills and improved their literacy capabilities. The program plays a crucial role in providing essential access to basic services for socially vulnerable groups and in bridging the digital divide.

※ Evidence: [News Article] Media Literacy Education for Students with Developmental Disabilities: https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=40&key=4170

Hands-on Science Class for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in Underserved Areas

Chonnam National University's Smart Math and Science Lab provides hands-on science classes for elementary, middle, and high school students in underserved areas. These classes focus on student participation through experiments and activities that encourage problem-solving. Popular programs include "Helium Balloons," "Marble Roller Coasters," "Coding Robot Creation," and "Liquid Nitrogen and Superconductivity."

Since 2022, the lab has conducted over 100 outreach education sessions targeting schools with limited educational infrastructure in the Honam and Jeju regions. These efforts have contributed to nurturing future scientists and promoting science culture. Starting this year, classes are also held at Chonnam National University, offering students from Gwangju and nearby areas the opportunity to participate.

※ Evidence: [News Article] Hands-on Science Class for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in Underserved Areas https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=53&key=4036

Bilingual Study Room for Multicultural Family Students

Chonnam National University’s Global Education Institute has been providing education in reading, writing, and speaking in the native languages of parents, including Vietnamese, to around 100 students from multicultural families in 7 different languages and 15 classes. Additionally, the institute offers special activities such as physical education, art, gayageum, haegeum, cello, and flute lessons.

Furthermore, Chonnam National University students have participated in learning mentoring programs, and there have been volunteer activities focused on teaching Korean to immigrant students.

The Bilingual Study Room is part of the Educational Internationalization Special Zone project and has been in operation for three years since 2021 through a partnership with the Yeosu Office of Education.

※ Evidence: [News Article] Bilingual Study Room for Multicultural Family Students https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=33&key=4239

The Global Education Center at Chonnam National University held a 'Youth Dream Growth Camp' targeting young people from educationally underprivileged groups.
The Youth Dream Growth Camp is a residential mentoring education program designed to enhance the global competencies of local youth, which included career and major experiences with student mentors. The program was filled with various activities such as 'Me, Myself, and I' with native speaker instructors, career special lectures by professional instructors, majors and special activities taught by the mentors themselves, and group tasks such as visiting campus institutions and carrying out missions.

 
※ Evidence: [News Article]  https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=32&key=2796
 

Rural Media Education Camp

Chonnam National University hosted a media education camp to contribute to the local community and support the career exploration of youths.

The Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Chonnam National University held a 'Rural Media Camp' at Jangpyeong Middle School in Jangheung County, where classes on drone filming, video special editing, and screenplay writing were conducted.

In this media camp, Chonnam National University students from the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting, who completed a media teaching course after preparing media equipment and undergoing pre-education for practical skills, teamed up with Jangpyeong Middle School students. They created video content in line with the 'Peaceful School Project' run by the school, addressing four themes: hate speech, gender sensitivity, school violence, and fake news.

※ Evidence: [News Article] https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?board


Educational Project for Children from Vulnerable Communities in the Local Area

The "2023 CNU Round-Up Class" program was planned under the leadership of the Student Affairs at Chonnam National University to provide tailored educational support services for children from vulnerable communities within the local area. The aim of this program was to reduce educational disparities within the community and to provide children with better learning opportunities to enhance their academic achievements.

The program ran for a total of 8 months, from June 7, 2023, to January 20, 2023. During this period, 35 participating university students and 12 child welfare educators supported the children's learning through various educational activities. The university students utilized their academic knowledge and experience to provide tailored educational guidance to the children, focusing on motivating and enhancing the children’s learning abilities.

※ Evidence: [Attachment] Educational Project for Children from Vulnerable Communities in the Local Area