POSCO helps university students teach science to underprivileged children

The 18th Beyond volunteer group members pose with children from child welfare centers in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, after teaching them science and engineering in August. Courtesy of POSCO

Another group of university students has begun volunteering with support from POSCO.

The steelmaker said Thursday that its 18th Beyond members have engaged in volunteer activities since a launch ceremony in June.

Beyond, a university student volunteer group organized by POSCO in 2007, has seen more than 1,500 students participate over the past 18 years, working to address environmental and social issues through volunteer work in Korea and abroad.

In line with POSCO's efforts to develop future-oriented technologies, including its "intelligent factory" initiative, new Beyond members have focused on teaching science and technology to underprivileged children living near the company's steel mills in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province.

Last month, the volunteers used engineering kits to teach around 60 children from four child welfare centers in Pohang. After developing their own kits, they also taught engineering to around 70 children from child welfare centers in Gwangyang.

"We were proud to connect with the children and teach them science using the engineering kits we designed," a volunteer said. "We hope to create more change through technology."

The volunteers are now preparing for activities scheduled in Indonesia in January.

With the engineering kits they developed, they plan to teach science to teenagers there and promote cultural exchange between Korea and Indonesia.