Seoul to send 130 volunteers to help underprivileged in Uzbekistan, Laos

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will send 130 volunteers to Uzbekistan and Laos to assist underprivileged communities this year as part of its youth program.

A poster advertising the Seoul Metropolitan Government's youth program in Laos and Uzbekistan.

According to officials, applications for the program are being collected until May 20. Any residents of the city aged 19 to 39 can participate. Those selected will receive training before visiting Uzbekistan’s Tashkent and Laos’ Vientiane between July and August.

They will be offered free round trip air tickets, food, accommodation and some cash.

While staying in the cities, the volunteers will take part in various projects such as repairing and improving infrastructure facilities and teaching local children about Korean culture.

Tashkent was selected as one of this year’s program destinations to commemorate the 15th anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Seoul, while Vientiane was chosen in recognition of the cities' 10-year partnership.

The destination for the inaugural program in 2023 was Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The following year, 70 volunteers went to Jakarta and Yogyakarta in Indonesia.

The program has proven to be so popular, the city government nearly doubled this year's quota to give more people the opportunity to participate, officials said.

“As we open the program for the third year, participants in the overseas volunteer group will be given an opportunity to contribute to the international community and grow as responsible leaders through the experience,” said Kim Chul-hee, director-general of future youth planning at the city government.