The first International Development Cooperation Expo will be held in the multi-purpose hall and the Lee Sam-Bong Hall at Ewha Campus Complex (ECC) on September 29. The exhibition is held by the Ewha Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) and the Institute for Development and Human Security (IDHS), and sponsored by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Also, 19 NGOs of the international cooperation including United Help for International Children, UNICEF, Good Neighbors, and World Vision will join the exhibition.
            This special exhibition was promoted in order to attract students’ attention for international aid. Korea has not entered the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which is the principal body through which the OECD deals with issues related to co-operation with developing countries, among OECD committees. In 2007, Korea was ranked as the 25th among 27 OECD-member countries, having 0.1% of ODA budget compared to GNI (Gross National Income). The average budget of OECD-member countries is 0.3%. However, as Official Development Assistance (ODA) Korea decided to register as a member nation of the DAC in 2010, Korea is ready to take an active part in managing and participating in activities related to international aid.
            The KOICA and Ewha decided to provide a well-timed opportunity to draw attention of the international development cooperation. Professor Lim Eun-mie (GSIS), who is the manager of this event, said that it is important to inform not only university students, but also middle and high school students about the system how nations co-operate each other to provide aids to poverty-stricken places around the world in an open place like the exhibition. While many other universities and institutions suggested forums or workshops with academic purposes, Ewha suggested an exhibition to introduce comprehensively the volunteer activities of governmental organizations and NGOs (Nongovernmental Organization) to students.  
            At the exhibition, information booths of the KOICA and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), an organization supporting developing countries, and working to increase the economic interchange between them and other world economies, will be installed. Publications will be prepared to help students understand what the organizations do to increase foreign aid and how they use donations to help developing countries. Students can watch displays of activities by NGOs, and a round-table meeting of the members from the organizations and students will be arranged at the end of the exhibition as the last event of the day. At the meeting, students can get advice on working for the international aid groups, or participating in overseas volunteering activities.
            Through the expo, the IDHS, as the co-hosting institute, aims to provide students with practical information on what is done for foreign aid in and outside of Korea.
            “Compared with the position and roles of Korea as the world’s 13th largest economy, the country has weaker impact on poverty in the global society. I hope students could obtain right knowledge towards foreign aid and perceive the necessity of poverty-reduction, peace, and development in the world”, said Lim
            The exhibition will be open for everyone from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Lim said the IDHS is planning an event that students can post messages of their thoughts, impressions, and wills on a bulletin board after seeing the exhibition.

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