Green Choices, Global Voices: Korea and Colombia Connect Across Continents
- IVECA Center
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
On November 26th, students from Korea and Colombia connected for their final Live Class, closing out weeks of collaboration with energy and insight. What unfolded was a dynamic session where ideas flowed easily, perspectives were exchanged with genuine interest, and the theme “Green Choices, Global Voices” offered a meaningful lens for exploring each other’s environmental practices and daily realities.
Throughout the session, students examined and compared how environmental challenges shape daily life, culture, and opportunities in their own and partner countries. This conversation naturally framed the discussion of how these issues affect ordinary people, and what shared values help both countries move toward a more sustainable future. Students approached these questions by making thoughtful connections to their own communities.
Korean students presented projects on the waste we create and the resources we take for granted, linking water shortages, plastic use, and energy consumption to everyday routines. Others envisioned an eco-friendly retreat on Jeju Island, suggesting bicycles, shared buses, and low-environmental impact activities that protect the island’s scenery. A group exploring future green careers showed how designers are experimenting with seaweed-based materials to replace plastic packaging, and another team demonstrated how art can be transformed when combined with recycling, like art pieces made of buttons, bottles, and even recycled glass.
Colombian students' approached environmental care from a different angle. They described the fragile beauty of marine ecosystems and the pressures placed on sea life by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Students spoke about the local deforestation affecting water access, agriculture, and rising temperatures in cities. One group highlighted the effects of fast fashion on water resources and textile waste, proposing a clothing swap at school to encourage more mindful consumption. Others focused on sea pollution and the importance of community clean-ups and stronger wastewater treatment. Though the contexts varied, the message felt shared: environmental issues are personal, and each choice we make has a ripple effect.
The session also gave space for culture and joy while students exchanged appreciation for the natural environment and living things. Korean students performed Taekwondo and shared a musical rendition of “밤이 깊었네 (When the Night Grows Deep),” filling the virtual room with energy and warmth. Colombia shared a heartfelt video of students visiting an animal shelter, taking part in their community’s efforts to help those who most need us, followed by a glimpse into their Christmas traditions.
As the conversation unfolded, students from both countries recognized the similarities in their concerns. They reflected on responsibility, community involvement, and the importance of new perspectives. One Korean student captured this feeling beautifully: “To us, you were like those new glasses. You get to see your surroundings from another view, making everything feel special.”