[Gwangju] On April 8, Golden Year 3 (2006), Gwangju initiates participated in offering vegetarian dishes to an elementary school and its schoolteachers, students and their parents. The school, located in Naju, a suburb of Gwangju, opened this year as an Alternative School. It has about 18 teachers and 90 students, including 5 initiates’ children. The school was concerned about the vegetarian children and began offering a vegetarian menu for them. So, when initiates asked if they could host a vegetarian party at the school, the principal delightedly granted permission and especially arranged it to be held on a Saturday. Teachers and parents were also invited.

On the day of the activity, fellow practitioners first spoke about the benefits of vegetarianism before preparing the food. When the lunch was ready, the young students hurried eagerly over to the table that held the lovingly prepared dishes. All the children who tasted the various cuisines said their vegetarian fare was most delicious! The parents and teachers also expressed surprise at the food’s tastiness; they were amazed that it was possible to create such a variety of wonderful dishes using only pure vegetarian ingredients. Many parents, interested in their children’s health, said they wanted to learn to use vegetarian recipes that would be tasty and good for their children, and they requested to have a vegetarian cooking class in the future.

This was the first-ever public vegetarian event held at a school for students, teachers and parents. Seeing that this made it possible for school children to learn about and experience the benefits of vegetarianism as part of their education, initiates are planning to offer the same activity at other schools.