Five students - Emmanuel, Mariama, Tresor, and Ronnie from the African Development Forum (ADF) - recently spent an afternoon volunteering their time to introduce African culture to nine Korean children through an interactive learning session held at KDIS. What began as a simple idea to help children learn more about Africa in a fun and engaging way turned into a lively exchange filled with questions, music, laughter, and curiosity. For the ADF volunteers, the goal was not only to teach but to give the children a genuine experience of Africa beyond what they may have seen online or heard in passing.

“We wanted the children to see Africa beyond headlines and stereotypes,”  Emmanuel explained. “There is beauty, diversity, and so many unique traditions that we felt they should experience.”

The session began with introductions and the sharing of interesting facts about Africa. The volunteers spoke about the diversity of African languages, traditions, foods, and landscapes, and the children were immediately attentive. They listened with interest when the KDIS talent donors explained that Africa has 54 countries, thousands of languages, and large modern cities, just like Korea. One volunteer later shared that the curiosity in the room felt genuine and refreshing. “The more we talked, the more the children wanted to ask. They were excited and surprised by how much they were learning.”

The children expressed fascination as they learned about different countries, cultural groups, and customs. Many had assumed Africa was one place with one language, so they were surprised to learn about its size and diversity. At one point, a child said, “I didn’t know Africa had so many countries,” which became a moment of excitement and discussion.

After the introduction, the session shifted into music. The children listened to modern African music and traditional rhythms from different regions. The volunteers then played short clips of African traditional weddings and shared stories surrounding food and ceremonies. The children watched weddings with colorful outfits, dancing crowds, and families celebrating together. They openly expressed admiration for the clothing and enthusiasm in the videos. One of the children leaned forward and asked, “Do people wear these every day?” The volunteers explained that certain outfits were reserved for ceremonies or holidays, and that clothing held meaning, honoring family identity, heritage, and cultural pride.

Watching African meals also captured their attention. The children saw jollof rice, plantains, injera, fufu, and grilled meats being served at celebratory gatherings, with families eating together from shared plates. One boy smiled and said, “I want to taste that,” while pointing at the screen. This quickly turned into questions about ingredients and how meals were prepared. The volunteers described spices, shared stories about family eating customs, and explained how meals often bring people together for companionship and love.

Together, the team played a Kahoot game about Africa. The children eagerly participated, competing to answer questions about African countries, foods, languages, animals, and historical landmarks. They reacted with excitement each time new information appeared on the screen, often turning to one another to check if they had chosen the correct answer. The volunteers used the game as an opportunity to explain the facts in more detail, giving context to answers and clarifying misconceptions. The children enjoyed guessing, learning, and seeing how much they already knew, and they expressed pride when they selected correct answers. 

At the end of the event, the children thanked the volunteers and expressed how much they enjoyed learning through conversation and storytelling rather than through books or online videos. One child said, “Today was very special. I liked learning from real people.” Another said, “I thought Africa was far and different, but now I feel closer to it.”

For the ADF members, the experience was personally fulfilling. They expressed gratitude for the chance to connect with young people and hoped that similar engagements would continue in the future. “Sharing knowledge makes the world a bit smaller,” one volunteer said. “We want these children to feel that Africa is not distant - that it is a place full of people, families, joys, challenges, and dreams just like theirs.”

The three-hour exchange ended with smiles, photos, and promises of future visits. As the African students packed their materials and prepared to leave, several children waved enthusiastically and asked when they would meet again.

The day demonstrated that sometimes the most powerful cultural exchange happens in the simplest moments through laughter, new knowledge, songs that children try to imitate, and clothing traditions that spark wonder.