Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way

What Asia Coastal Disaster Human School Did Last Summer

Im Sun tae, Guest Reporter 

  While the majority of undergraduates were striving to have a fantastic summer vacation, studying English or some other specific subject, 10 CNU students boldly decided to do a parachute jump out of a “job-oriented airplane”, just out of the sheer desire to help other people. “I learnt a great number of priceless things while doing it. Furthermore, I was able to boost my self-confidence by helping other people. I will never forget it,” said Lee Do-gwon, an Economics senior.
After a long period of preparation, early on the morning of July 20th, 2005, 13 passionate volunteers mainly composed of CNU undergraduates, with Professor Cho Yang-gi, of the Faculty of Earth Systems and Environmental Services in the lead, left for one of Sri Lanka’s cities, Matara, a spot devastated by the tsunami of December 26th, 2004.  In fact, they also called to Ruhuna University in Southern Sri Lanka.
  All 13 members on this trip belong to the “Asia Coastal Disaster Human School” of CNU. The main reason for the establishment of this school is to teach those vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly Tsunamis, how to cope when such disasters strike. That is why they had been preparing teaching materials on this topic for nearly half a year beforehand.
  “As soon as we arrived at the spot, we could not help but be dumbfounded not only because of  the wretched plight of the local people, but also at their complete lack of knowledge on how to react in the event of such natural disasters,” said Lee Do-gwon who is in charge of the general education team of the ACDHS. ACDHS is composed of both professional non-professional members.
  As scheduled, they set about doing multifarious activities. First of all, with the help of undergraduates from Ruhuna University, they finished translating the education materials from English into Sinhalese, the local Sri Lankan language. After that, the members visited some primary and secondary schools to teach the children what Tsunami waves really are and how to limit them from causing terrible damage as quickly as possible. Their educational slogan is “All about Tsunami Waves.”
  While the general team, composed of undergraduates, devoted itself to educating very young children, the professional team went to the research centers of every university so that they could share and donate their information about Tsunamis. Furthermore, the ACDHS held social gatherings so as to have discussions about Tsunamis and to cause the local residents to carefully think about them. All the time, the ACDHS made every effort to promote Korea as a civil-ambassador. Every time a presentation was made, Korea was introduced to the audience. “We felt really happy that the residents welcomed us with cordial open arms wherever we went,” said Lee Do-gwon.
  The team also gave an interview to the regional press. This was aimed both at giving detailed information to everyone about Tsunamis, and at fostering friendly relations between CNU and the Sri Lankan universities. “Even if we were nervous during the 2-hour interview we managed to get through it by showing our passionate enthusiasm for the work we were doing,” said Ho Dong-un. He went on to say, “While staying in Sri Lanka, we spent many hours getting along with the natives in the region. We played many football games with them. This relieved our stress but, better still gave us a chance to get to know each other.” 
  By the time it came to leave the place the volunteer team didn’t want to. “After we finished the final presentation to around 250 people in the auditorium of one of the most famous high schools, we had mixed feelings,” said Lee Do-gwon.
  After having spent two weeks helping to educate these people the 13 members of the Asia Coastal Disaster Human School of CNU came back to Korea via Hong Kong, where they reported to the Commission of the Asia Human Rights on what they had experienced and what the real situation was like in Sri Lanka.
  “One thing I want to say is that I am now a lot more self-confident than before. This visit was a sort of a once-in-a-life-time chance to get to know who I really am as well as what I should do in the future. It seems that I am ready not only to go global, but to think global also” said Lee .