UN poverty eradication program activity leaders received 8 day training from 21st
Various education such as theory and field experience at the YU International Development and Cooperation Center
Apply 'Saemaul Undong' in regional development plan for localization
[July 23, 2014]

 Leaders of major African countries visited YU (President Noh Seok-kyun) to learn about the Saemaul Undong.

 19 leaders from six African countries such as Malawi, Senegal, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania visited YU in the afternoon of the 21st to study the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit.

 This team from Africa are leaders in the UN's millennium development goals (MDGs)* and the follow-up program for this called the MVP (Millennium Villages Project). MVP is a project being carried out together by the UN and MP (Millennium Promise), an international non-profit organization established to provide refuge for the poor in Africa, and is a poverty eradication and regional development program held for the 10 poorest countries in Africa since 2006.

 The delegation was composed of local public officials and town leaders in charge of the MVP project, MDGs personnel, MP project personnel, and other multi-national personnel.

 The visit to YU was designed so that the outstanding MVP regional leaders and personnel in Africa could understand that Korea's Saemaul Undong experience is a useful plan and applicable strategy for local social development and to actively learn more about it. This is because as the MVP project is scheduled to end in 2015, it is necessary to develop a sustainable community in which the local residents can initiate development on their own.

 Andrew Daudi (58) who is responsible for the Mwandama Millennium Village of Malawi, which is one of the MVP projects of MP, said, "We want to share the experience of Korea that quickly overcame poverty and achieved economic growth. I believe that the Saemaul Undong and Saemaul spirit was the driving force behind Korea making unprecedented growth from one of the poorest countries in the world." He added, "I was surprised as soon as I arrived at Incheon Airport and received training at YU to see the development of Korea. By applying what I learned at YU to fit Africa, I think that the MVP project that we have been working on will be completed successfully."

 The delegation began the training at 6 p.m. on the 21st with an orientation for theoretical studies and field experiences for eight days until the 28th. The training was composed of reports by each nation to share the development status and issues of agricultural and farming villages of each participating nation, overseas application and issues such as the understanding of Saemaul Undong and emerging countries, lectures for application plans of the Saemaul Undong for rural development promotion of the livestock industry, as well as small ground discussions and field trips.

 During the training period, participants will propose alternative application plans of the Saemaul Undong suitable to their region based on the understanding of the Saemaul Undong philosophy and pursuance process, and on the last day on the 28th, make presentations and discuss MVP application plans of the Saemaul Undong for each region.

 They will also visit the Saemaul Undong Memorial Hall at Cheongdo-gun in Gyeongbuk, Gumi Samsung Electronics and the National Revival Hall, Gunwi-gun Corn Village and Ganghun Ranch, and the Yeongcheon Heungseng Chicken Farm, while also visiting historical and cultural heritages of Gyeongu to experience the history and culture of Korea.

 YU International Development Cooperation Center Director (Vice-dean) Choi Oe Chool who oversees this training said, "Korea is a global success model in which we became close to an advanced nation through effective people-led community development strategies and industrial technological innovation." He added, "This delegation made up of international organization experts of Korea will be able to have the opportunity for epochal achievements to improve the quality of life and eradicate poverty by applying Korea's Saemaul Undong experiences and policy operations to fit their nations."

 This visit by the African delegation was made possible through invitations by KOICA. The delegation will study Korea's rural development history, mindset reforms and leadership improvements, environment-friendly farming and Saemaul Undong, and overseas and Korean town development cases at the Canaan Farmers School from the 18th to the 21st and then receive training at YU from the afternoon of the 21st.

 Meanwhile, with major African countries coming to YU to learn the Saemaul Undong recently, YU has been receiving attention as the center for international Saemaul Undong education and training. In June, Ethiopian Governor Gedu Andaregachew Alene, chairperson of the central committee of the ruling party, and senior officials for a delegation of 20 people visited Korea at their own expense to learn the Saemaul Undong to receive Saemaul Undong education at YU on two separate occasions.