Hyundai Motor to open technical high schools for sustainable aid

Hyundai Motor Company held an opening ceremony of the 'Hyundai-KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Dream Center', a technical high school established as part of Hyundai's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts in Koforidua City, Ghana.

Attended by 150 government officials including the Eastern regional Minister H.E. Victor Smith, 200 students and parents from Koforidua, 72 Happy Move Global Volunteers from Korea, Korean Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Jae-min Kyun and Head of Hyundai Motor's African Regional Headquarters Sang Min Park, the official opening of the first Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center took place a year after its groundbreaking ceremony last January. The opening of the Center in Ghana marks the start of Hyundai's program for establishing schools in African and Asian countries.

"Hyundai Motor Company and KOICA are providing opportunities for and developing the technical skills of the youth of Ghana to contribute to their future growth," said H.E. Victor Smith, the Eastern regional Minister.

"The Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center in Ghana will become the country's best technical school and serve as a model for technical schooling in Africa by providing quality education to students," said Sang Min Park.

Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center is a government-approved technical high school, which Hyundai established in collaboration with KOICA, a Korean government agency, and Plan Korea, a branch of one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations Plan International, in order to expand education opportunities and create jobs for underprivileged African and Asian students.

The Center consists of two main buildings; a three-story school building equipped with classrooms, practice rooms, computer room and library and a dormitory building designed to occupy 40 students with a cafeteria built in. In particular, the dorm was fully funded by Hyundai Motor, and 'Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers', Hyundai's official university student volunteering group, participated in its construction.

In addition to providing financial support, Hyundai utilises its resources and expertise in the automotive industry to help unprivileged students by developing an education program adapted from a program for Hyundai mechanics, providing vehicles and transmissions as training materials, dispatching professional educators and training qualified teachers. 

The government-approved technical high school offers a three-year education program. This year, 100 students will enter the school first, and eventually, a total of 300 students, 100 for each grade, will attend the school.

Hyundai plans not only to be closely involved in the development of the school's education programs and operations, but also to further extend its support to graduates by offering internships and jobs at its local dealerships as well as a mentoring program for those who wish to start their own businesses.

Posted in: Corporate Social Responsibility,CSR,Ghana,Hyundai,Hyundai-KOICA Dream Center,International,Koforidua City,Koica,Korea International Cooperation Agency,Out of Wheels,Sang Min Park,Victor Smith