Projects
|
FAQ
|
Announcements
#Future plans became concrete #Hands-on NGO experience; time immersed in nature #The beauty of Thailand's nature
[Overseas Internship/International Development] Harvard student goes to Thailand to brighten the world Lee Seongbin, gap-year participant (24, university student) / 12-week gap year
* This review is a translated and edited version of the testimonial the participant left directly with the local organization.
|
A project that appealed to me after discharge when I wanted to experience something a little more special
In Korea I had previously sold coffee, rubber bracelets, and t-shirts for a Korean NGO working in Kenya. I also made mitten kits to sell on the street, and the finished mittens were sent to Kenya after being returned to the Korean NGO. Generally, it seemed that Koreans donate more to or help Africa than Southeast Asian countries.
Building on that experiencemy project idea in Thailand was to make and sell calendars and note cards on a Korean crowdfunding websiteAt the time, crowdfunding sites were quite popular in Korea, and people were selling various items to make their campaigns successful. When I arrived, a former volunteer named Dawn was teaching the children to use pastels to make pretty thank-you cards, and I decided to use this method for my calendars and note cards.
I found suitable paper material and sizes for the calendars and note cards in Chiang Mai. After creating a few appropriate designs, I found a print shop and made samples. The calendar looks like the picture above.
Then I wrote an introduction of the local organization and the project idea on the website. Unfortunately, all my plans were halted by a motorcycle accident. But luckily, after I was treated and discharged from the hospital and could work again, Dawn, who had inspired much of my project plan, returned to the local organization to volunteer for about 10 days.
She helped a lot with making more artworks with the children and improving my product designs and the financial aspects of the funding.Ultimately I launched the crowdfunding campaign on February 20, and my goal was to raise $1,000 by the deadline of March 13It was.
I promoted the crowdfunding campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and several Korean websites. Our campaign received some pledges, but unfortunately we did not reach our final goal and therefore could not receive any funds. I''m sorry that my project couldn''t proceed, but this experience gave me confidence that if there''s another fundraising opportunity I can make higher-quality products and organize a better team.
I also haven''t given up on this project. Now back in Korea I''m looking for other ways to sell the calendars and note cards through schools or flea markets. I have a friend who runs a print shop, so if there is enough demand I plan to produce them in Korea as well.
Motorcycle accident — my decision to stay at the local organization despite it
* Depending on the accommodation, participants may in some cases commute by bicycle or motorcycle together with other volunteers, and during pre-volunteer training they receive motorcycle safety instruction.
However, Korean Gap Year does not recommend motorcycle riding for participants'' safety. If you must ride, please do so only if you hold an international driving permit.
|
On my last weekend at the local organization, the volunteers including me and some of the children went to a nearby waterfall. The water was very clear and the weather and scenery were perfect. I was really sorry that because of the accident I couldn''t play in the water with the children. Nevertheless,I came to Thailand intending to give help, but I was able to learn much more and received a lot of help.
Through the overall internship experience in Thailand, I was able to think more specifically about my future plans.By experiencing firsthand how an NGO operates and what specific needs the children have, I learned a lot about practical aspects.
I still haven''t decided on my plans after graduating university—whether to become a generalist or a specialist, whether to go to graduate school, work at an NGO, or work at another company. But what is certain for me is that I will do work that helps others, and I hope to visit this organization again someday soon.
[Overseas Internship/International Development] Harvard student goes to Thailand to brighten the world Lee Seongbin, gap-year participant (24, university student) / 12-week gap year
* This review is a translated and edited version of the testimonial the participant left directly with the local organization.
|
A project that appealed to me after discharge when I wanted to experience something a little more special
In Korea I had previously sold coffee, rubber bracelets, and t-shirts for a Korean NGO working in Kenya. I also made mitten kits to sell on the street, and the finished mittens were sent to Kenya after being returned to the Korean NGO. Generally, it seemed that Koreans donate more to or help Africa than Southeast Asian countries.
Building on that experiencemy project idea in Thailand was to make and sell calendars and note cards on a Korean crowdfunding websiteAt the time, crowdfunding sites were quite popular in Korea, and people were selling various items to make their campaigns successful. When I arrived, a former volunteer named Dawn was teaching the children to use pastels to make pretty thank-you cards, and I decided to use this method for my calendars and note cards.
I found suitable paper material and sizes for the calendars and note cards in Chiang Mai. After creating a few appropriate designs, I found a print shop and made samples. The calendar looks like the picture above.
Then I wrote an introduction of the local organization and the project idea on the website. Unfortunately, all my plans were halted by a motorcycle accident. But luckily, after I was treated and discharged from the hospital and could work again, Dawn, who had inspired much of my project plan, returned to the local organization to volunteer for about 10 days.
She helped a lot with making more artworks with the children and improving my product designs and the financial aspects of the funding.Ultimately I launched the crowdfunding campaign on February 20, and my goal was to raise $1,000 by the deadline of March 13It was.
I promoted the crowdfunding campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and several Korean websites. Our campaign received some pledges, but unfortunately we did not reach our final goal and therefore could not receive any funds. I''m sorry that my project couldn''t proceed, but this experience gave me confidence that if there''s another fundraising opportunity I can make higher-quality products and organize a better team.
I also haven''t given up on this project. Now back in Korea I''m looking for other ways to sell the calendars and note cards through schools or flea markets. I have a friend who runs a print shop, so if there is enough demand I plan to produce them in Korea as well.
Motorcycle accident — my decision to stay at the local organization despite it
* Depending on the accommodation, participants may in some cases commute by bicycle or motorcycle together with other volunteers, and during pre-volunteer training they receive motorcycle safety instruction.
However, Korean Gap Year does not recommend motorcycle riding for participants'' safety. If you must ride, please do so only if you hold an international driving permit.
|
On my last weekend at the local organization, the volunteers including me and some of the children went to a nearby waterfall. The water was very clear and the weather and scenery were perfect. I was really sorry that because of the accident I couldn''t play in the water with the children. Nevertheless,I came to Thailand intending to give help, but I was able to learn much more and received a lot of help.
Through the overall internship experience in Thailand, I was able to think more specifically about my future plans.By experiencing firsthand how an NGO operates and what specific needs the children have, I learned a lot about practical aspects.
I still haven''t decided on my plans after graduating university—whether to become a generalist or a specialist, whether to go to graduate school, work at an NGO, or work at another company. But what is certain for me is that I will do work that helps others, and I hope to visit this organization again someday soon.
What makes this project special