DAEGU, South Korea - KATUSAs from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and the 403rd Army Field Support Brigade are keeping the tradition of the KATUSA core and volunteering to help local orphanage kids with their academics.
Twice a week after duty hours, a group of eight KATUSAs visits the Hodongwon Orphanage to teach various subjects such as English and mathematics to students of diverse backgrounds and education levels.
“I am studying economics at Kyung-hee University,” said Pfc. Lee Min-soo, 19th ESC personnel administrative center. “I feel proud that I can use knowledge I gained throughout my life and pass it on to younger students.”
Hodongwon Orphanage is located next to Camp Henry, where most of the KATUSAs from the 19th ESC work. The orphanage has had a close relationship with the 19th ESC KATUSAs for several years, pleased with the help from the KATUSAs.
“KATUSAs have been very helpful for the past few years,” said Jeon Gyu-ong, principal of Hodongwon Orphanage. “The students enjoy having KATUSAs around and consider KATUSAs their role models. It’s nice to see KATUSAs help the community, even though they get paid less and have fewer privileges than their American counterparts.”
Coming from universities such as Seoul University, Korea University and Yongnam University, most KATUSAs bring a high level of education and an abundance of tutoring experience. Most volunteers are halfway finished with their bachelor’s degrees, and one volunteer, Cpl. Kang Joon-seok, 19th ESC chaplain’s office, has a master's degree in Business Administration.
The primary subject that KATUSAs tutor is English, because all KATUSAs are required to have a minimum score of 780 out of 990 on the Test of English for International Communication test.
“When I first came to this unit, my seniors asked me if I wanted to teach English to children, and I answered, 'Sure, why not?'” Lee said. “Sometimes the commitment is hard because you have to take a day out of your life each week. You may have things going on with your personal life or events happening in your unit.”
The length of volunteering for KATUSAs is typically one semester, with the volunteering KATUSAs receiving proof of their volunteer work from the orphanage.
“All KATUSAs are eager to volunteer their knowledge,” said Kang Young-hoon, 19th ESC equal opportunity office and the senior volunteer. “I teach a 1st-grade elementary school student, and personally feel very proud when she does well or seems to understand what I am trying to teach her.”
KATUSAs are required to obtain permission from their Republic of Korea army support office commanders before going off post after duty hours.
Maj. Noh Gong-chool, 19th ESC RSO commander, has signed off on the volunteering KATUSAs’ permission forms since he took command of the 19th ESC KATUSAs in December 2010.
Noh said it is nice to see KATUSAs from the 19th ESC take time to look around and help the community. Most of these KATUSAs will become leaders of Korea in the near future, and when they reach the top, he hopes they remember their days in the army and continue to take care of the people around them.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.14.2011 22:09 |
| Story ID: | 73755 |
| Location: | DAEGU, DAEGU GWANG'YEOGSI [TAEGU-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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