Herald Media recently hosted a youth volunteer camp in the Philippines, where South Korean high school students helped plant mangroves.

The 2012 Youth Global Volunteer Camp, sponsored by the Philippines’ Cebu City Government and the University of Visayas, held its inaugural volunteer event from June 14-23.

The Global Volunteer Camp focused on the Cebu area, where participants planted mangroves along the waterfront as part of a campaign to defend against natural disasters and protect the environment. Volunteers also worked in local orphanages, nursing homes and day care centers.

The camp differed from other volunteer programs in that participants experienced and came to appreciate the concept of a “global village of public service” by working alongside local medical students and other members of the community.

The young volunteers experienced first-hand the living conditions in low-income countries. While realizing that volunteer work could not quickly reverse the situation, they said they were proud to have taken some beginning steps toward change. The work gave the high school students the opportunity to see that they aren’t just residents of Korea, but citizens of an important “global village.”

The students will receive recognition for their hard work and passion with official volunteer certificates from the Cebu City Government, the Cebu medical school at the University of Visayas, and representatives of Herald Media, the parent company of The Korea Herald.

The second 2012 Youth Global Volunteer Camp will run from Aug. 12-19 in Cebu. Applications will be accepted from July 2 to Aug. 8, and inquires should be made to (02) 727-0322. For more information, go to http://prep.koreaherald.co.kr. Participants must be in high school.

By Kim Min-ju, Intern reporter (ekim9293@gmail.com)