Korean Rotarians give scholarship toward First Nations education
A few minutes surfing the net in Korea reeled in a scholarship for local First Nations students.
Harold Shim, president of a Rotary International Club in South Korea, donated a $1,000 scholarship for students involved in the Sooke School District’s First Nations graduation program.
Shim, a lawyer involved in international mergers, said he found out about the graduation program while checking out Colwood Rotary’s website.
His Rotary club was considering doing something in Canada as part of the club’s international initiatives and the First Nations program caught his eye, Shim said.
“We’re very excited about the graduation program because it gives First Nations students a second chance at education,” said Shim during a presentation Monday to students at WestShore Centre for Learning and Training’s annex on Sooke Road. “Education is very important to Koreans.”
Shim was impressed by a partnership between students and Colwood Rotary that restored an old, abandoned campground at Irwin Park to its natural state in 2006.
“Wherever we go, we want to join our fellow Rotarians in serving needs in other countries,” Shim said, noting the club has also financed digging wells and rebuilding a school in Cambodia.
The Korean Rotarians will also make the scholarship available next year, and are considering making it an annual contribution, said Dave Betts, principal of continuing and alternative education for the Sooke School District.
Betts said the school district appreciates the efforts by Colwood Rotary for making the Irwin Park partnership possible.
“We also want to acknowledge the generous support of the Korean Rotarians,” Betts said.
About 15 members of the Korean Rotary International Club accepted an invitation by Colwood Rotary to visit the West Shore.
Jim ten Hove, past president of Colwood Rotary said it was great for club members to have the opportunity to meet their fellow Rotarians from Korea.
“Our club hopes to get involved in another joint project,” ten Hove said. “We look forward to working with them again in the future.”
