SNU gives early admission to African studying at local school
Kent Kamasumba, center, receives congratulations from fellow classmates at Jirisan High School in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, Friday. Kamasumba gained admission to the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Seoul National University on the same day through a separate screening for foreign nationals in an early admission process. [YONHAP]
Kent Kamasumba, 20, a third year at Jirisan High School in Sancheong, was accepted by the university through a separate admission screening for foreign nationals which was one of the early admission processes for the 2010 academic year.
It is very rare for a foreigner attending a high school in Korea to be selected in SNU’s early admission process. So far, most of the foreign students who have studied outside of Korea have been granted admission.
After graduating from a high school in Zambia last February, Kamasumba came to Korea with help from a Korean missionary and the Jirisan school.
“I wanted to keep on studying at a university but my family could not afford to pay for the tuition due to financial difficulties,” he said. “My father passed away when I was young and there was no one to earn money. I am so happy that I can keep on learning in Korea. I am planning to earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at SNU and become a famous scholar in agricultural economics so that I can develop my homeland. I want to learn how Korea turned from poor to rich in a short period of time.”
Though he received congratulations from many people, he has not been able to send the news to his family in Zambia. His hometown is located in the Munbuwa region, some 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Lusaka. There are no phones in the area and it takes about a month for letters to be delivered.
Kamasumba grew up mostly with relatives because his parents were too poor to raise him. He said he survived by eating fruit and vegetables once a day. To earn his meals, Kamasumba had to carry drinking water from a well that was two kilometers from his home. After performing many tasks for relatives, he was able to take time to study. Even during desperate moments, he did not quit. He was always a top student.
Though he graduated from a high school with honors, he did not have money for college. A Korean missionary found him and sent him to the Jirisan school.
In Korea, Kamasumba would visit a nearby welfare center for the elderly on weekends and helped them bathe. He also volunteered to guide foreign visitors at a management office for Mount Jiri National Park.
“I used to be pessimistic about being poor,” said a third year surnamed Lim, 18. “But I was motivated by Kamasumba that I should have stronger self-confidence and study harder.”
Park Hae-sung, 54, the principal at Jirisan school, said, “I believe that talented students from Africa like Kamasumba can play a bridge-building role between Korea and African countries when they return to their homeland after studying in Korea.”
The principal also said the school is going to find as many sponsors as possible to provide Kamasumba with tuition and daily expenses.
Established in 2004 as one of the alternative schools in the country targeting underprivileged students living in and out of Korea, the Jirisan school was authorized as a general high school by the government. With the help of many sponsors, students attend the school for free. Including Kamasumba, there are three foreign students among 53 attending Jirisan. There are 11 teachers.
By Lee Min-yong, Kim Sang-jin [smartpower@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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