Yonsei graduate Cho Jin-Hee was awarded 1,000-hour volunteer service medal A Yonsei student who graduated last August 27th volunteered for five months in the Philippines. In 2008, Ms. Cho Jin-Hee (Department of Social Welfare) paid her own airfare to volunteer as a teacher at a children’s shelter near Manila called “The House of Refuge.” She received a 1,000-hour-volunteer-service medal. Cho taught piano, art, English, and math at the House of Refuge, living in the old shelter with the children. When food was short at the shelter, Cho did not go out to buy her own food, but endured hunger with the others. Cho took a semester’s leave of absence to volunteer in social welfare services. At first, she could not find any organization that could offer her assistance in volunteering abroad, so she paid for her own airfare, living expenses, and training. After a while, an NGO introduced her to the House of Refuge. Cho now says she is happy, since that’s what she wanted to do all the time, that is, helping others. She thinks her volunteer services abroad will be a great field experience and the best learning opportunity. Yonsei University adopted a system to register and check students’ volunteer services. Cho is the first student to fulfill over 1000 hours in volunteer services. In fact, she also worked at several hospitals and welfare services centers. Her services amount to 1,347 hours. Cho hopes to continue her work in the graduate school and aims to help people who are tormented by suicidal tendencies.