Delegates from Korea Visit Cebu for a 1-Week Immersion Program

Thirty delegates from South Korea immersed with the farmers of Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Banlot (Nagmasaba) in the upland village of Banlot, Sibonga town, Cebu on Friday, Jan. 25, as part of their one-week visit in Cebu.

They are composed of students, professors, and researchers of the Department of Saemaul Studies and International Development in Yeungnam University.

Professor Lee Jeong Ju, head of the delegation, said the undergraduate students will be immersed in different fields of learning in Cebu.

Image source: Cebu Provincial Gov’t

The student delegates worked with the Nagmasaba in making fertilizers and planted vegetables, such as eggplants, lettuce, bell peppers and tomatoes in the farm and went around the community of Banlot to conduct a research and interview.

They assessed the needs of the people, as well as the important aspect to better the community through the theories and practices of Saemaul – a community development model in Korea.

Kim Soo, one of the student delegates, thanked the villagers in Banlot for the warm hospitality and cooperation in the activity.

Image source: Cebu Provincial Gov’t

Aside from the farm in Sibonga, the delegates also visited the People’s Empowerment through Social, Technological Active Livelihood Economic Services (PESTALES) farm in Argao town, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), University of the Philippines–Cebu, and the Cebu Provincial Capitol, and watched a cultural show before the flew back to Korea last January 30. (Cebu Provicial Gov’t)