[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Citibank Korea Inc. (CEO Ha, Yung-ku, www.citibank.co.kr) and YWCA Korea (President, Cha, Kyung-ae) had a signing ceremony for Darae Class, an after-class study support program for children from multi-cultural families at the YWCA Building in Myeongdong in the morning of Feb. 20 and delivered USD 200,000 sponsored by the Citi Foundation.

Citibank Korea has provided ‘Darae Class,’ which means ‘a class for the future of multi-cultural families’ since 2012 with the sponsorship of the Citi Foundation recognizing the necessity to help this specific group of children with their studying. The program consists of basic Korean study, study guidance, and tour to historic sites, all of which are designed to support the children’s after-school study. The main target of the program is children from multi-ethnic families like those from married female immigrants, North Korean defectors, migrant children, and ordinary adolescents from low-income households. The program will be run in small groups of less than five to facilitate communication and form a sense of sympathy among the participants to ultimately help them grow into the global leaders of the multi-cultural era.

The 2013 Darae Class financed by the donated fund will be participated by 200 students and 40 teachers from 20 cities throughout the country such as Ansan, Incheon, Busan, and Gwangju. For one year, the participants, divided into small groups (five students per a teacher), will be engaged in one-on-one study advice, reading guidance, and tour to historic sites associated with books. In particular, the volunteering university students and ordinary adults are planning to visit remote areas with poor education infra such as Haenam and Goesan to donate their talents.

“To build a mature multi-cultural society, we need to pay attention and give necessary support to the children from multi-ethnic families so that every child can grow into a global citizen regardless of their background,” said Cha, Kyung-ae, president of YWCA Korea. Ha, Yung-ku, CEO of Citibank Korea also expressed his expectation saying, “I hope the program, as befitted its name, will instill hope and dream to the children from multi-cultural families, and help develop next generation talents with knowledge, virtue, and healthy body.”