Jeju Island Farming Volunteer Work
Grade 11
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A staple in Jeju Island, tangerines are not only a popular fruit loved by many but also one that is recklessly thrown away in large numbers. With few taking action to clean these fruits off of the streets, my volunteer work focused on helping local farmers lessen the number of tangerines wasted each year.
According to the Yonhap News, 1,400 tons of tangerines are discarded every year. The government tries to mitigate the amount of waste by buying tangerines, but there is still a large volume of tangerines that are being discarded.
To mitigate this issue, I organized a team of 11 people who were willing to help pick and pack tangerines. I contacted an orchard next to my house and arranged a time when we could assist them.
Throughout this process, I embraced the challenges head-on, especially given the difficulty of finding local employees with limited resources. As the leader of this volunteer team, I found pride in supporting my community members through a difficult situation on our Island. However, what made the experience even more rewarding was how enjoyable it was. By working closely with my friends, I realized the collective power we have to make a positive impact in our local community.
