Exhibition offers glimpse into 'Bridge' program

By Kim Se-jeong

An ongoing photo exhibition “Bridging Hope in African Village” is a reminiscence of UNESCO Korea’s development program in Africa.

Launched in 2010, the program “Bridge” dispatched 18 trained activists to six countries in Africa — South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their main task was to connect with locals and to get them to be able to read and write.

Welcoming guests at the opening which was on May 24 at UNESCO’s headquarters, Min Dong-seok, secretary general, hoped the exhibition would raise awareness of Africa and what UNESCO does in Africa. Thirty-nine photographs were taken by activists on the field.

The project was launched by Min’s predecessor Chun Taek-soo who was an educator himself.

Now, the activists have opened 16 community learning centers throughout the six countries, with almost 12,000 local residents receiving an opportunity to learn and read.

In its outset, the program was very ambitious, but ran into financial challenges.

At the point of recruitment, the organizer had promised activists a two-year special training through local educational institutions so that they could return home as a regional expert, but the team hasn’t secured the funds to do it all.

In August this year, the second group of activists will depart to Africa. The exhibition will continue through June 8.