5 hours Ago By [email protected](KoreaTimes)
A member of the 17th Beyond volunteer group teaches Indonesian teenagers the correct way to brush teeth in the Southeast Asian country's city of Cilegon in this January photo. Courtesy of POSCO By Park Jae-hyuk Another group of university students recently finished eight months of volunteering in Korea and overseas with the support of POSCO. The steelmaker said Monday that the 17th Beyond members gave a briefing last Thursday about the results of their volunteer activities at POSCO Center in Seoul.
Beyond is a university student volunteer group organized by POSCO since 2007. Over the past 18 years, around 1,500 students worked as Beyond members to solve environmental and social problems through volunteer activities here and abroad. According to POSCO, Beyond resumed overseas volunteer activities this year for the first time since 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the volunteer group to halt their activities abroad.
Last month, its members were sent to the Indonesian city of Cilegon, which has suffered water shortages and public health issues, due to a lack of social infrastructure including water supply and sewage systems. The 17th Beyond volunteers dig to build a house in the Indonesian city of Cilegon in this January photo. Courtesy of POSCO During their weeklong stay, the 17th Beyond members participated in various volunteer works.
For five underprivileged households there, the members built houses by using bricks made with waste plastic and applying rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment systems to the buildings. They also contributed to the preservation of the marine ecosystem in the region by installing fish shelters made with slag, which refers to solid waste byproduct of steel production. POSCO said that mineral-rich slag promotes the growth of marine life, including seaweed.
Additionally, the Beyond members taught Indonesian teenagers about the importance of recycling, sanitation and coexistence with nature. "We prepared education materials for several months to provide meaningful classes to Indonesian students," one of the Beyond members said. "Although it was difficult practicing Indonesian to communicate with students there, I'm glad as it seems that the students understood our sincerity.
" The Beyond members also drew attention from the Indonesian media, with their K-pop dance performance for the cultural exchange between the two countries. Before their visit to Cilegon, they participated in various volunteer activities in Korea, such as gardening for the public, recycling plastic lids, supporting disabled people and cleaning rivers and streams. "I will continue to contribute to making a better society," said a Pukyong National University student, who was awarded for her consideration of others.
When the 17th Beyond members gave their briefing at POSCO Center, the steelmaker also introduced them to its own employees who had previously participated in the volunteer group's activities. "It was very helpful as I was able to learn about POSCO," another Beyond member said. POSCO said that it will continue recruiting university students nationwide every year as Beyond members to contribute to solving social problems globally.
The company plans to recruit the 18th Beyond members between April and May..
