Photo By Sgt. Sung-jun Lim | Sgt. Jung Sung-ho, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade S-4 supply specialist, tutors...... read more read more
DAEGU, South Korea – KATUSAs, Korean soldiers attached to U.S. military units, from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and the 403rd Army Field Support Brigade volunteer their time to tutor kids from the Hodongwon Children’s Home.
These KATUSAs from Area IV maintain a close relationship with the children’s home located beside Camp Henry, where most of them work.
Groups of seven KATUSAs provide educational support twice a week after their regular work day as a continuance of a 15-year-old tradition.
“I teach English to a middle school student, and I feel very proud when students seem to understand what I’m trying to teach them or do well in their academics,” said Sgt. Jung Sung-ho, 403rd AFSB S-4 supply specialist.
Most KATUSAs have received their education from top-ranked national and international universities, and several have a lot of experience tutoring other students before serving in the Army.
“Tutoring experiences that I had before helped me a lot. I am pleased to use my knowledge I gained throughout my life and pass it on to younger students,” said Cpl. Kim Chang-hee, 19th ESC Surgeon Cell assistant.
“They have been doing a great job. Children now perform better in their academics and get higher scores than before in their exams,” said Lee Sun-ok, Hodongwon Children’s Home elementary nurturing instructor. “Above all, KATUSAs are very amicable and willing to communicate with the students, so the atmosphere in the class is very fun and enjoyable, which improves students’ concentration remarkably.”
The primary subject that KATUSAs tutor is English, because they are required to have above average English skills to complete their mission working with the U.S. Army.
KATUSAs assist as private tutors that are assigned to individual students, which makes it easier for them to meet the kids’ needs in accordance with their education levels.
“I like spending time with KATUSAs. They feel like brothers or sisters that I used to know before,” said Choi Ji-hye, a middle school student. “They not only teach us how to solve problems, but also tell us how to study on our own based on their experiences.”
The length of volunteering for KATUSAs extends anywhere from one to three semesters.
“Since this volunteering is a pretty long term, we become attached to each other,” Jung said. “I always think about what they really need and try to teach them as much as I can.”
Jung, a hotel management major from Kyung-hee University, has already been volunteering in the program for three semesters.
The kids have diverse family backgrounds and education levels. Most of them have not had opportunities to receive formal school education because of their hardships.
“Sometimes it is hard to take a day out of your life each week because you may have your personal things going on. But helping the people in need is very rewarding to me, and it keeps me visiting the children’s home,” said Pv2. Roh Woo-young, 19th ESC Staff Judge Advocate administrative clerk.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2012 20:58 |
| Story ID: | 88476 |
| Location: | DAEGU GWANG'YEOGSI [TAEGU-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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