Costa Rica’s First IVECA Semester: Live Classes on Water Issues

In a remarkable exchange of knowledge and ideas, students from Costa Rica and South Korea recently engaged in a series of Live Classes facilitated by IVECA. Costa Rica students, who joined IVECA for the first time, had exceptional cross-cultural learning experiences throughout the semester. They appreciated the opportunity to expand their perspectives through lively discussions with their counterparts in Korea.

The Live Classes revolved around the theme of water, shedding light on the challenges and disparities regarding access to clean water and usage in their respective countries. In Korea, groups emphasized the extensive usage of water across various sectors, such as the agricultural and industrial segments. Yet, they expressed concerns about water pollution, particularly the impact of plastic waste, which seriously threatens water quality. Similarly, Costa Rican students highlighted the multifaceted nature of water usage in their country, while noting the challenges posed by the pollution of the Tarcoles River, the most polluted river in Central America, caused by untreated wastewater and trash from urban areas and factories.

Through these interactions, students actively participated in comparative learning, exchanging insights and observations on people’s actions and utilization of water sources. Korean students voiced admiration for Costa Rica's commitment to clean energy, and they were inspired by Costa Rica’s voluntary neighbor associations working to provide water in rural areas, as opposed to the government-led system in their country. Costa Rican students were fascinated by Daecheong Dam’s beautiful night view attracting tourists and were surprised at the affordability of water in Korea.

As these sessions came to a close, students shared gratitude for learning about each other's cultures and their water-related challenges. “This has truly been an enriching experience,” said a Costa Rican student. They also underscored the importance of international exchange in broadening their horizons and developing their qualifications as global citizens, with one Korean student noting, “as the world is getting globalized and internationally connected, the value of international exchange we have would get more and more important. Through dealing with global problems by communicating with other countries, we can expect a better solution for current problems and expand our horizons in the process.”

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #GlobalCitizenship #InterculturalCompetence #CostaRica #Korea #WaterIssues #SDGs #LiveClass

Education for Equality

On June 12, IVECA partners from India and South Korea joined together for their Live Class, presenting about inequalities in their countries. Based on their observations and research focused on their home countries, groups introduced inequalities in each of their communities. The opportunity to become aware of community issues brings new knowledge of global citizenship and empathy for the world around them. Students from both countries acknowledged the importance of education to solve common types of inequalities.

Students recognized income inequalities in their societies as a principal topic to research. The educational opportunities in rural areas often fall short, which directly contributes to the inequalities presented. A student from India explained, “Educational infrastructure is distributed unequally between rural and urban areas. Students in rural areas suffer from scarcity and inadequate accessibility of schools, as well as the poor quality of education, and are forced to travel large distances.” Caste inequality, which refers to the unequal distribution of wealth and income among citizens, affects the rights of an estimated 260 million people worldwide. For India, many of those affected by caste inequalities live in rural areas without access to education.

Similarly, in South Korea, medical inequalities are widened due to the lack of education and access to health care technology. The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the widening gap between regions to medical care. A student announced, “This affected the activities of people living, learning, and working. This affected social safety and caused a health gap with races and ethnicities.” Both groups of IVECA partners researched racism, gender, age, and religious inequalities. Lack of education affects how people are treated by others in their communities by limiting people’s exposure to different cultures and opportunities to explore new environments.

Concluding the Live Class, a South Korean student read, “Thank you for sharing your views on inequality and showing examples from your country. It was an eye-opening experience to learn about people who grew up in a different social environment from us.” With a new perspective learned from each other, students are empowered to educate themselves, others, and create changes starting at home.

#IVECA #GlobalCitizenship #InterculturalCompetence #India #Korea #EducationforEquality #SDGs #VirtualExchange #LiveClass

Cultural Ambassador For A Better World

IVECA will be hosting its 4th annual Global Virtual Summer Camp this summer, from July 31 through August 6, 2023. The theme for this year’s camp emphasizes cultivating young cultural ambassadors for a peaceful and sustainable world. During the Summer Camp, students will explore United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and Public Diplomacy to discover how different nations can utilize diverse formats to work towards achieving UN SDGs.

The course will be led by His Excellency Dr. Hesham Elnakib (Ambassador Extraordinary of Egypt). Students from South Korea will join with international partners from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the United States. Partners will participate in a blend of engaging lectures through Zoom and project-based collaborative learning. The final projects will be presented to an international audience during the Global Virtual Roundtable.

#IVECA #GlobalVirtualRoundtable #UNSDGs #VirtualExchange #CulturalAmbassadors #InterculturalCompetence #GlobalCitizenship #PublicDiplomacy