Oreum Middle School

At Oreum Middle School, whispers of a unique program echo through the halls. It’s called “Oreum,” like the small, volcanic hills dotting Jeju’s landscape. This program at Oreum Middle School isn’t about volcanoes though. It’s about the climb through school years. It partners younger students with older mentors at Oreum Middle School. Imagine the delighted laughter echoing from the corridors. This isn’t a typical classroom scene at Oreum Middle School. This is “Oreum” in action. The program blends cooking, trust games, storytelling, sports, and music. It’s a vibrant mix of mentorship and fun. Oreum Middle School’s program fosters a unique kind of service learning. It’s a response to the desire for more intimate, local service. It’s also partly a response to Covid-19 restrictions. The program aims to encourage students at Oreum Middle School to apply the spirit of service to their peers. It’s about building community within the school walls. The older students, already traversing the lower slopes of their educational “oreum,” offer guidance. The younger students, taking their first steps, gain invaluable support from their mentors at Oreum Middle School. The program empowers the older students with practical leadership skills. They determine and organize the activities. They respond to the needs they discover among their younger peers at Oreum Middle School. This hands-on approach reinforces the core requirement of any larger-scale service. “Oreum” at Oreum Middle School cultivates empathy, patience, leadership, and diverse language skills. It fosters creativity and altruism. It’s a testament to the power of small acts. A spontaneous act of kindness. Sharing a snack. Listening. These simple acts form the heart of service learning at Oreum Middle School. They blossom into authentic service action.