By Kim Joo-hyun, Kim Su-yon
Korea Times interns
With drawing boards and markers in hand, the children are completely engrossed in their task: to come up with ideas to help the world’s poor.
"I will save 100 won every day and encourage others to do the same, so we can donate to poor children," said Kim In-ji, 11, from South Jeolla Province.
At another table, Kim Yeong-gwang from North Chungcheong Province presented his blueprint for a "Magic Bottle" that gives children in Africa a continuous supply of clean water.
Such was the scene at Global Kids Camp, a summer get-away program for underprivileged children at a ski resort complex in mountainous Gangwon Province, July 26-28, attended by over 350 children from 18 welfare centers across the nation.
The participants, who are in third to sixth grade, engaged in a variety of activities designed to be both fun and educational, including a performance by an English-speaking magician.
The idea that they can help others, even though many of them come from low-income families, was the overarching theme of the program, organized by the International Vaccine Institute, an international organization that provides vaccination to developing countries, headquartered in Seoul.
“The inspiration for the camp came when the children from welfare centers visited our office last year,” IVI fundraising chief Sohn Mi-hyang told The Korea Times.
"Upon watching a video about the suffering of children in developing countries, the children realized that they could make a difference for those less fortunate than themselves," she said.
At the Kids' G20 Summit, the flagship activity of the program, the participants were challenged to come up with creative solutions for poverty in Africa ― a simulation of the upcoming G20 Summit hosted by Korea in November.
The proposed ideas were diverse and imaginative, ranging from using less water when washing dishes to stopping wars worldwide.
The team representing Argentina, whose proposal included Kim's Magic Bottle, won first prize for its creativity.
"The kids are very enthusiastic and actively involved," said volunteer staff member Li Mozi, a student from Harbin in northeastern China currently studying Korean language at Konkuk University.
"Thankfully, I did not have many problems communicating with the children even though my Korean is not perfect," she added.
This camp was part of the ongoing 'I Love One By One with IVI' campaign by Amway Korea, which has allocated $500,000 to fund welfare centers, vaccine research and other altruistic purposes for one year.
"Amway has been supporting underprivileged kids around the world as part of its corporate social responsibility project, and the IVI was the ideal partner for our goal in Korea," said Kim Sang-doo, a corporate social responsibility official at Amway Korea.
On the last day, each participant received a 'Global Citizen Certificate,' a reminder that the children were living in a world where geographical boundaries mean little.
"After receiving so much help from foreign countries since the outbreak of Korean War (1950-53), it is now Korea's turn to repay," said Myung Kun-kook, fundraising official at IVI.
"Likewise, we hope the children will grow up to make a difference in developing countries."