The Starlight Sharing Foundation, illuminating the future of young people, shares a story of sea camping with Laotian exchange students.

The 2nd Sea Camping Festival – A Special Cultural Exchange with Laotian Students

From May 3rd to 4th, the Starlight Sharing Foundation held the '2nd Sea Camping Competition' at a campsite with a beautiful pine forest in front of Okgye Beach.

This event was made even more meaningful and significant through the participation of Laotian students residing in Korea, foundation officials, and especially the Laotian Ambassador to Korea, embassy family members, and embassy staff .

The 2nd Camping Competition is the second event following the 1st Sea Camping Competition (held at Daebudo Campground in Gyeonggi-do), and is a representative program that practices cultural understanding and mutual exchange, which are the core values of the Starlight Sharing Foundation.

Through various programs such as camping with international students, barbecue parties, traditional game experiences, and cultural exchanges, young people from Korea and Laos had a time to freely communicate and build friendships.

In particular, the Laotian Ambassador, his family, and embassy officials communicated with international students, offering advice and messages of encouragement about life in Korea , and also shared deep sympathy and support for the foundation's activities.

Visiting Deungmyeongnakgasa Temple to celebrate Buddha's Birthday – a time of cultural empathy

This camping event coincided with the Buddha's Birthday holiday on May 5th, giving it a special meaning for the Laotian students, who are mostly Buddhists.

After camping, the Laotian students visited the thousand-year-old Dengming Naksa Temple in Donghae, where they had the opportunity to experience firsthand Korean Buddhist culture and the atmosphere of a traditional temple.

For the Laotian students, most of whom are Buddhists, this temple visit was not just a cultural experience; it was a special experience that allowed them to feel emotional empathy and a sense of stability in an unfamiliar Korea.

At Deungmyeongnakgasa Temple, nestled in the foothills, the international students enjoyed a meaningful time discovering commonalities between diverse cultures, experiencing the colorful lanterns, the sound of moktak (traditional Korean bells) echoing throughout the temple grounds, and the connection between Korean Buddha's Birthday culture and their own traditions.

The international students felt a sense of cultural connection and familiarity through the Buddhist culture similar to their own, and were able to share empathy across religion and culture with foundation officials.

This visit to the temple was a moment that made me reflect on the meaning of 'true exchange through cultural understanding and respect' that the Starlight Sharing Foundation pursues.

A warm companionship that opens the future of youth

The Starlight Sharing Foundation helps young people from developing countries to independently decide and prepare for their future paths of studying and working in Korea through cultural, language, and technology education support projects.

We also provide a variety of practical support programs to help them settle down safely and securely in unfamiliar environments through domestic settlement support programs. We also operate a step-by-step study abroad program that links domestic schools with domestic universities.

We provide ongoing career counseling and employment support services to students studying abroad, serving as a solid stepping stone to help them achieve their dreams after graduation.

This camping event served as a natural opportunity to experience and practice the foundation's philosophy, and it was a time to take steps together toward a healthy multicultural society that respects and embraces cultural diversity.

The Starlight Sharing Foundation will continue to provide generous support to young people so they can grow into global talents equipped with both cultural sensitivity and technical expertise.

We will become the Starlight Sharing Foundation, a warm companion that opens up a bright future for young people.