I’m so glad to have joined Yeongwol (Korea) workcamp in summer. Yeongwol province is 2-hour drive away from Seoul, located in the middle of South Korea. It has lots of rivers and mountains and much of its area remains uncontaminated. Our volunteers are from worldwide and we all love youth work. For more information of volunteer projects in Korea, visit IWO.
On the first week we stayed in Yeongwol Big Tree Local Children Centre and we worked with local leaders and centre manager to organise wonderful educational activities.
Beautiful surroundings of the centre:
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre library](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2296.jpg?w=620&h=349)
library with lots of English books
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre classrooms](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2294.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Yeongwol Big Tree Centre (Classrooms)
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre greenhouse](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2300.jpg?w=620&h=349)
greenhouse
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre cat](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2302.jpg?w=620&h=349)
very tamed and good companion to kids
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre big dog](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2337.jpg?w=620&h=349)
cute big dog
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre cabbage](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2325.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Cabbage at the farm for kimchi and lunch in the canteen
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre apple](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2322.jpg?w=620&h=349)
fruits growing in the farm of the centre
It’s quite humid and hot during summer, so we always drank lots of cold water and had lots of ice-cream. Luckily there was air conditioning inside the building and it was cool during night. We slept on the floor with mat or sleeping bag and it’s how Koreans do traditionally.
Both the centre and volunteers had prepared a lot of exciting activities for the kids and these are the highlights of the programme:
Ice breaking games
Water fight in the streams near the centre
International food and culture fair-
Kids enjoyed learning the history, language and culture of different places (Germany, Taiwan, Spain, Albania, Hong Kong, France, Poland and Russia) and tasted wide range of delicious traditional food, including soup, pasta, tea, chocolate, etc. They also played some outdoor games and learned Tai Chi. It’s said to be one of their favourite activities!
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre International Fair Germany](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2537.jpg?w=620&h=349)
international fair – Germany
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre France](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2538.jpg?w=620&h=349)
France Booth
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre Chinese Costume](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2556.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
Chinese costume wearing in International Fair
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre Chinese Food](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2533.jpg?w=620&h=349)
I prepared Chinese five-spice eggs and tofu for the guests and kids and the food was gone in seconds!
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre Hong Kong](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2553.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Hong Kong Fair
Farm work – picking fruit
![aronia berry](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2367.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
Look at the fresh produce of aronia berry!
A day trip to Gangneung (beach, winter Olympics museum and aquarium)
![2018 Winter Olympics - Gangneung Green City Experience Center](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2438.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Gangneung Green City Experience Center
![2018 Winter Olympics curling](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2446.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Kids were playing curling really hard
Also, there was 4D experience of skiing in the center which is worth trying.
![Pyeongchang lunch](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2462.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Lunch time
![Pyeongchang lunch vegetarian](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2463.jpg?w=620&h=349)
The side dishes were mainly veggies including oyster mushrooms and pancakes which are good news for vegetarians. We had bibimbab and traditional Korean tea as well.
![Gyeongpo Aquarium](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2482.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Located next to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Exhibition Centre, we also spent some time in Gyeongpo Aquarium and took dozens of cool pictures.
![Gyeongpo Aquarium Jelly fish](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2492.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Enjoy more slow motions of jelly fish here:
Have a look at my Slow motion video on My instagram
First encounter of soft and tiny creatures – touched starfish and some sea animals never seen before!
![Swimming and bathing at Gangneung Beach](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2520.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Swimming and bathing at Gangneung Beach
Farewell
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre Fairwell](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2601.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Time to write to each other about our thoughts and say goodbye
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre prize](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2578.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Our kids got big prizes for being outstanding and brave in the workcamp
Last but not least, tasty meals prepared by centre staff and ice lolly
![Yeongwol Big Tree Centre food](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2336.jpg?w=620&h=349)
The staff from the centre prepared us tasty lunch and dinner, and used fresh local veggies from their farm. Kimchi was available every meal which was great for those for like spicy food 🙂
P.S. We had a relaxing weekend and that’s why we got ready for the workcamp at Yeongwol Youth Centre the second week!
![Amazing Korea Dessert Sulibing](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2630.jpg?w=576&h=1024)
We had great dessert bingsu in cafe called Sulbing. The chocolate one with brownie, the traditional one with bean powder and mochi and the melon one with milk ice. I’m so impressed with the shape and taste!
Click Sulbing dessert cafe website for the full menu.
![Yeongwol city](https://charleenlaiblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/imag2622.jpg?w=620&h=349)
Hang out in Yeongwol city at night – carnival and games
This is the first week so far. For the details of the second week, please visit here.
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