In the late afternoon, once classes have all ended, the IGC club room comes alive with the energy of students dedicated to tackling social issues. United by the dream of a future of shared happiness, members of TAV—IGC’s joint volunteer club—hold discussions that stretch into the evening. Wherever their help is needed, whether domestically or abroad, they pursue their unwavering commitment to creating social value.

Q. Could you tell IGC Journal readers a bit about TAV?

TAV, short for ‘Take Action for Virtue’, is a joint volunteer club at IGC, driven by the motto of putting values into action. 

It is also the official student committee of Onhappy, an NGO recognized with Special Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC). To promote the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) adopted by the United Nations, TAV engages in diverse projects both at home and abroad. These initiatives help students take a leading role in addressing social issues and develop into global citizens.

Q.  Could you describe TAV’s structure and size, along with how it operates?

TAV currently has approximately 60 active members, with 40% coming from George Mason University, 30% from the University of Utah, 25% from Ghent University, and 5% from SUNY Korea. Club activities are organized through regular meetings for all members, and department-specific meetings are held as needed, mainly to plan volunteer initiatives.

Q. Could you share some details about what each department does?

Upon completing a semester, TAV members are awarded an official volunteer certificate from the NGO Onhappy, and their service hours are recorded in the 1365 official volunteering system. Members also have the opportunity to lead the planning and execution of international initiatives in partnership with local institutions and global NGOs. As a cross-university club, TAV provides students with the advantage of engaging with peers from different campuses.

Q. What distinguishes TAV from other clubs at IGC?

We were volunteering to teach science experiments at an international school and interact with schoolchildren. It was the most memorable part. Preparing a customized curriculum for the children was not as easy as we thought. However, we kept trying, for example, selecting teaching aids that would enhance student learning performance and improving classes based on their feedback and opinions. After finishing my last class, the students said to me, “You'll be coming back, right?” I felt relieved that I had done a good job and got a lump in my throat when I realized that we had really clicked. Since this first event, we have been working with international schools for three semesters now and are working hard to bridge the educational gap in the local community

Q.  Looking back on your time with TAV, when did you feel most fulfilled?

I felt immense pride last year when mentees from the GS Department, after having struggled greatly to boost their English skills, confidently delivered their on-stage presentations in English at the closing event of the mentoring program, the K-SDGs Youth Forum. In July of this year, the TAV executive team and I attended the UN High-Level Political Forum(HLPF) in New York and published the ‘K-SDGs Report’ analyzing Korea’s situation—a truly memorable experience. Such moments make me really appreciate that our work with TAV contributes meaningfully to society.

Q. How and when can students become members of TAV?

At the start of each semester, TAV conducts a three-week recruitment period open to students of all majors. Applications are reviewed in the first stage, followed by interviews in the second, and candidates are selected according to the focus of each department. A helpful tip is to familiarize yourself with the department you wish to join and to clearly outline how you intend to contribute and grow through its activities. With dedication, teamwork, and strong motivation, anyone can become a member.

Q. Could you share your plans for upcoming activities? And do you have a final message you would like to share?

Moving forward, we aim to broaden our activities beyond Korea and to increase cross-departmental projects, evolving TAV into a unified platform. Even small efforts can collectively bring about meaningful change. As a reliable partner in driving such change, TAV hopes to inspire IGC students to join our activities, reflect on social value, and actively engage in initiatives that make a difference.

Yoon Min-seo, 

6th President of TAV

TAV believes in the values created by making the right choices, and it will continue progressing hand in hand with its members.

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