“To help our children grow into community leaders and provide them with a sense of grounding in their cultural roots, we are launching the next-generation education summer school program called Daehan Hakdang,” said James An, president of KAFLA.
The pilot program will run for eight weeks, from June 17 to August 12, and is open to middle and high school students (grades 6-12). The program will consist of eight hours of classes per week, with four hours conducted online and four hours in-person.
During this time, students will learn about the history of the American Revolution, Korean immigration, civic engagement, community council activities, and the roles of local governments.
Classes will be taught in the chavrusa style, a traditional Jewish study method involving small groups discussing and debating a topic. Field trips to L.A. City Hall, the Sacramento State Capitol, and Revolutionary War sites are also planned.
Additionally, students will have the opportunity to meet and be mentored by Korean-American role models from various professions and to volunteer for Korean-American organizations and local government agencies.
“Funding is provided by KAFLA, the Heritage of Korean Independence Southwest Los Angeles, and Next Generation Advocates (NGA) in the form of scholarships,” An said.
“As a father myself, I have been aware of the need for cultural roots education for the next generation of Korean Americans,” said Jaeho Sohn, the vice president of the Heritage of Korean Independence Southwest Los Angeles, who delivered the program’s scholarship to KAFLA.
“I hope that through this program, students will be able to establish their identity and learn about the history of Korean immigration.”
NGA President Helen Kim emphasized that “participating students will learn to improve their communication skills through the chavrusa classes.”
Students interested in participating can apply online at forms.gle/jc3sqpGMF4Vvn8S89 by June 3. Finalists will be notified individually on June 5.
The registration fee is $100 per person. For more information, please visit www.nextgenad.org.
BY NICOLE CHANG [support@koreadaily.com]
