"Do Project," a Korean volunteer group comprised of young professionals, is on a mission to build a new school for the small village of Nong Bua in Savannakhet Province, Laos.
The group visited the village for the first time last summer. During their stay, they gave music, arts and science lessons at the elementary school, and donated new desks, chairs and stationery to the young students. They also helped to lay concrete on the dirt floors in the school's main building. This trip to Laos was the first step in laying down the groundwork for the group's Nong Bua school-building project.
The name "Do Project" comes from the idea that, "anyone can do good using his talents and creative ideas." The project is the brainchild of Bernardo Bae who came up with the concept in 2011 when he took a trip to Calcutta, India, to volunteer in the city's slums. Bae's philanthropic work in India soon spread among his coworkers and friends, and Do Project was founded in 2012. Today, the project has around 50 members who are all working professionals between their 20s and 40s, with job titles like marketer, interpreter, pharmacist or engineer.
The Nong Bua school project is estimated to cost around KRW 25 million. Of this, KRW 5 million will be sourced through crowd funding. The crowd sourced donations will be used to purchase cement, sand, bricks and other materials that are needed to start the reconstructive work.
The project is currently receiving crowd funding donations online at www.wadiz.kr/web/campaign/detail/3527. All donations will be used on work at the school. Other expenses, such as flights and accommodations, will be paid for by the volunteers themselves.
Those wishing to join the cause as a volunteer may leave a message at the Do Project blog (http://blog.naver.com/doproject) or send an email to (doproject@naver.com).
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Do Project
hlee10@korea.kr
The group visited the village for the first time last summer. During their stay, they gave music, arts and science lessons at the elementary school, and donated new desks, chairs and stationery to the young students. They also helped to lay concrete on the dirt floors in the school's main building. This trip to Laos was the first step in laying down the groundwork for the group's Nong Bua school-building project.
The name "Do Project" comes from the idea that, "anyone can do good using his talents and creative ideas." The project is the brainchild of Bernardo Bae who came up with the concept in 2011 when he took a trip to Calcutta, India, to volunteer in the city's slums. Bae's philanthropic work in India soon spread among his coworkers and friends, and Do Project was founded in 2012. Today, the project has around 50 members who are all working professionals between their 20s and 40s, with job titles like marketer, interpreter, pharmacist or engineer.
Do Project visited the village of Nong Bua in Laos last August and helped to lay concrete floors in the school's run-down building.
The Nong Bua school project is estimated to cost around KRW 25 million. Of this, KRW 5 million will be sourced through crowd funding. The crowd sourced donations will be used to purchase cement, sand, bricks and other materials that are needed to start the reconstructive work.
The project is currently receiving crowd funding donations online at www.wadiz.kr/web/campaign/detail/3527. All donations will be used on work at the school. Other expenses, such as flights and accommodations, will be paid for by the volunteers themselves.
Those wishing to join the cause as a volunteer may leave a message at the Do Project blog (http://blog.naver.com/doproject) or send an email to (doproject@naver.com).
Do Project's crowd funding campaign runs until Jan. 31. Donations can be made at www.wadiz.kr/web/campaign/detail/3527.
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Do Project
hlee10@korea.kr