[Sponsored Report] Hyundai Steel inspires volunteers

University students participating in Hyundai Steel’s eighth “Happy Yes” volunteer program at their welcoming ceremony. [HYUNDAI STEEL]

“Happy Yes,” a volunteer program consisting of 100 university students specially selected by Hyundai Steel, held a summer camp to kick-start the program’s eighth iteration.

The summer camp ran from Aug. 3 to 5 and included volunteer education and a field trip to the company’s steel mill in Dangjin, South Chungcheong.

Every year, Hyundai Steel’s Happy Yes program selects a theme for its volunteer projects. This year, the students will focus on “upcycling,” adding new value through the creative reuse of waste material.

At the summer camp, members of the eighth Happy Yes volunteer program were educated on the upcycling processes for various waste materials - making eco-bags out of used banners, pencil cases out of used wrapping paper and clothing from wood.

The lessons will help them prepare to take on further systematic upcycling activities.

Kim Sang-kyu, director of management planning at Hyundai Steel, participated in this year’s Happy Yes welcoming ceremony and was on hand to encourage the group of newly selected volunteers.

“By participating in the activities of Happy Yes, I hope each student will grow to become a warm-hearted citizen who helps those in need,” he said.

Hyundai Steel’s volunteer program for university students, Happy Yes, was established in 2009 with the aim of encouraging student interest in minority groups.

The program recruits 100 students each year, and since its establishment, approximately 700 university students have joined the Happy Yes program to engage in volunteer activities.

BY YANG SEYOUNG [yang.seyoung@joongang.co.kr]