KOICA aims at spreading Korean language education in Luxor

CAIRO - 12 June 2023: The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), South Korea’s official development aid agency, has held the ‘KOICA WFK Program Partner Organization workshop’ in the Luxor Governorate for one day.

The workshop took place in the Iberotel Hotel conference hall in Luxor governorate on 7 June 2023, participants included the three partner organizations from the Egyptian side and KOICA Office Country Director, the Volunteer Program Manager and three KOICA volunteers from the Korean side.

As a part of the ongoing cooperation and commitment between the KOICA Egypt Office and Luxor organizations as a central cooperative region in Upper Egypt, the workshop aimed to strengthen the ties and to discuss the volunteers’ activities in spreading Korean language education in Luxor.

The workshop highlighted the result of the practical education curriculum for the students, which was introduced in the last event ‘Yala Maa Baad’ held on 24 April 2023 at Luxor.

In addition, KOICA Egypt Office discussed with the Luxor Industrial Mechanical Secondary School, which received KOICA volunteers in 2008, in order to dispatch new volunteers in the automotive and electronics fields.

Heads and officials of the three entities participated, shared their vision for more fruitful cooperation, and discussed ways to support youth empowerment activities that could be held by KOICA volunteers.

Notably, Ms. Lee Guen Gyeong, a KOICA volunteer shared her presentation on the ‘Yala Maa Baad’ event and its outcomes. Three KOICA Korean language volunteers in EGOTH, MODLI (Ministry of Defense Language Institute) and Aswan University led the event. ‘Yala Maa Baad’ event aimed at providing 30 Egyptian students who are learning the Korean language in those schools with a chance to practice Korean tour guiding and exchanging knowledge and experiences among themselves through various activities and exercises. Additionally, the event offered prospects for students, particularly those who are eager to begin a career in the tourism sector.

In Luxor, as one of the most attractive touristic sites in Egypt, KOICA expects that partner organizations will actually help students strengthen their capacity by providing practical Korean language education and training programs and fostering students in order to be employed, or self-employed as tour guides.

Dr. Saleh Mohamed Abdel Moety, Dean of  “The Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotels” and Mrs.Suzan Wadeea Helmy, Principal of the Luxor Industrial Mechanical Secondary School expressed their sincere gratitude to KOICA for organizing the workshop, which they described as a fruitful event for knowledge sharing and strength partnerships. Dr.Mohamed Hassany, Director of the Misr Public Library acknowledged the significant impact of the two KOICA’s volunteers who are currently working in the library to teach Korean language to students. Furthermore, he articulated his aspiration for the Library to organize a Cultural Day that would exhibit Korean costumes, food, and shows, thereby providing a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange and enhancing the friendship between the Korean people and the Egyptian community. Such an event would undoubtedly contribute to promoting cultural understanding and appreciation, fostering mutual respect, and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two nations.

Ms. Jinyoung Kim, Country Director of the KOICA Egypt Office expressed her gratitude to the heads and co-workers of the partner organizations for their cooperation and shared the KOICA Office’s high priority to expand and vitalize the partnership in the Luxor region. She also stressed that the interactive cooperation among partner organizations and diversification of the volunteering fields are very essential in achieving better results in youth empowerment through the volunteer program.

KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) is a Korean government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to implementing grant aid programs aiming to combat poverty and support sustainable socio-economic growth in developing countries around the world. KOICA Egypt Office, established in 1998, provides technical education for youths in Egypt, supports the digitalization of government services and systems, and carries out programs to address gender-based violence and strengthen women's empowerment and support vulnerable groups.

In 2023, KOICA dispatched 10 volunteers working as Korean language teachers in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. More volunteers are expected to be dispatched to various fields including youth activities, disability, computer education, etc. KOICA volunteers will continue providing technical cooperation to Egyptian youths to contribute to the development and prosperity of Egypt.