Orphanage seeks volunteers for August

People from around the world are being invited to apply for a residential volunteer program at a Korean orphanage this summer.

The volunteer program at Emmanuel Children’s Home is to run from this Aug. 5-14.

The orphanage in the city of Gimcheon, in North Gyeongsang Province, is home to 120 children ranging from newborn babies to college students.

Emmanuel is looking for volunteers aged between 18 and 40 years old to help the orphans learn English while also learning about Korean culture themselves.

All volunteers should be fluent English speakers and legally able to visit South Korea, or already residing here.

Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission is organizing the stay and will provide on-site training, support and English translation assistance for volunteers. KKOOM is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that supports orphans and orphanages throughout South Korea.

It is organizing the Emmanuel program for the third time to promote cultural understanding and friendship between volunteers and the children.

Five men and four women will be selected from the applicants to live on-site with the children and follow their schedule from about 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.

They will help children and staff learn English through activities such as classes, tutoring, games and communal chores. Volunteers can also assist the nursery staff with the babies there.

Those who are interested in learning Korean can arrange to have a language exchange with an Emmanuel staff member or an older student.

For more information, e-mail kkoom.esp@gmail.com. Applications should be sent by May 29, and people will be informed whether or not they are accepted by June 1.