Education South Korea Project #15123

[KKOOM] Early education for Korean toddlers

by Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission

Summary

It is well established that children who attend preschool before reaching school age do better in school. In South Korea, children from regular families typically begin attending preschool at age 2. However, due to lack of funding, Korean toddlers living in the social welfare system are unable to attend preschool until they turn 4-years old. Since 2011, KKOOM has provided tuition for 2 and 3-year-old Korean toddlers to attend local preschools. Annual tuition for one child is approx. $4,000 USD.

$200,000
total goal

$46,080
remaining

544
donors

9
monthly donors

1
fundraiser

11
years

Challenge

Because most children from ordinary families begin attending preschool two years before most toddlers are able to from the children's homes, Korean toddlers in the social welfare system are significantly behind their peers by the time they turn 5. This gap persists for the remaining years of preschool and in to elementary school.

Solution

KKOOM provides access to early education for Korean toddlers by paying their tuition to attend preschool at age 2--the same time when most other children in South Korea begin attending preschool. Rather than waiting until the young child turn 4 to receive government funding for preschool, we can use donated funds to pay to send the children to preschool during years 2 and 3.

Long-Term Impact

Sending toddlers to preschool who live in children's homes at the same time (age 2) as regular children will help eliminate the education gap for toddlers living in Korea's social welfare system. It will level the playing field when it comes to educational achievement in the classroom as they grow older.