Case Study on the Change and the Development of Overseas Educational Volunteer Activity

This study examined how overseas educational volunteer work by university students, which began 10 years ago, has evolved and developed. The six elements of cultural-historical activity theory were used to analyze the volunteer work journals, reports, papers, and books. The impact of volunteer work on participants was also analyzed. The subject of overseas educational volunteer work has expanded, and the object has also expanded to the teacher training and the new lessons. The tools have been improved through localization, and rules have changed flexibly or strengthened. In the community, changes in Nicaraguan politics and society have significantly impacted volunteer work, and in the division of labor, the locals increasingly has taken a larger role. The evolution of the volunteer work system can be categorized into changes within and between sub-elements, expansion or addition of sub-elements, and changes within the six elements. Volunteer work has continued to evolve, overcoming conflicts such as the political and social climate and the COVID-19 pandemic, and has even led to the creation of new volunteer work systems. While outlining what needs to change and what needs to continue in volunteer work, we discussed the importance of strengthening teacher training, strengthening the role of co-teachers, safety management, lessons that emphasize teacher-student interaction, and classes that emphasize student experience. Furthermore, because volunteer work is a life experience that provides participants with a wealth of learning, it is crucial to continuously expand the subjects. We graphically summarized the changes in the volunteer work system to provide reference for related research and volunteer activity management. We hope that research on volunteer work will be continued in Korea, a rapidly transforming multicultural society, and we suggest future research.