The Millennium Development Goals of the UN are eight international development goals which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. These statements were officially established at the 2000 Millennium Summit of the United Nations in New York, and were agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions, including 189 United Nations member countries and 23 international organizations. They have all agreed to put unprecedented efforts into meeting the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. The 8 goals for building a better world are:

Goal 1: ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 a day. This target would be achieved by decreasing the poverty gap ratio and share of the poorest quintile in national consumption. The second target of this goal is to achieve decent employment for women, men, and young people. GDP growth per employed person, increasing the employment rate and proportion of family-based workers in the employed population may help to achieve the goal. Lastly, halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, including the prevalence of underweight children under five years of age and the proportion of the population below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption.

Goal 2: ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION: By 2015, all children, girls and boys, can complete a full course of primary schooling, including enrollment in primary education and completion of primary education.

Goal 3: PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015; Improve the ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education, the share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector and the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament.

Goal 4: REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate (under-five morality rate, infant (under 1) morality rate and the proportion of 1-year-old children immunized against measles).

Goal 5: IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio (maternal mortality ratio and proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel). And achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health via increased rate of contraceptive prevalence.

Goal 6: COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES: Have halted all by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. This target can be achieved by providing education of HIV/AIDS to the proportion of population aged 15-24 years and increasing usage of condoms during high-risk sex.

Goal 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources and reduce biodiversity loss; achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss by increasing proportion of land area covered by forest, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

Goal 8: GLOBAL PARTNERNSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. This includes a commitment to good governance, development, and poverty reduction – both nationally and internationally.

There are many NGOs putting efforts to achieve these millennium goals around the world. We have the most famous Korean NGO- the Korea International Cooperation Agency. Many university students admire their activities and want to work for KOICA. They have internship openings in both the summer and winter periods. University undergraduates from the junior year studying in South Korea are able to apply for a position in the KOICA. Many non-profit organizations and NGOs are seeking the help of university undergraduates as they have positive energy to share with people around the world.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA): The KOICA was first established by the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1991 to help developing countries with the Korean government’s grant aid and technical cooperation programs with international NGOs. KOICA focuses their objectives on sustainable developments, building partnerships with developing countries and some global concerns including environmental development, poverty reduction and improving gender discrimination. Their overall goal is to develop our world in every index within the UN’s millennium goals. KOICA asserts that with Korea’s unique experience of the last 20 years, developing from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most economically advanced countries, they would be able to help lesser developed countries and enhance their economic growth. 

World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA): A global non-profit organization representing and coordinating a membership of over 100 national United Nations Associations was established in 1946. WFUNA is guided by the vision of a United Nations that is a powerful force in meeting common global challenges and opportunities. They work to strengthen and improve the United Nations and its millennium goals. WFUNA consists of global citizens who want to share a global mindset and support international improvement over the globe. They value impact, respect, empowerment, collaboration, innovation and passion to achieve their missions. They are currently seeking 15 WFUNA supporters who are interested in United Nations and international issues and who can participate well both online and offline for 4 months from December 1st 2013 to March 1st 2014. All applicants are required to have the ability to communicate well in English. For more information, visit the WFUNA’s website: www.wfuna.org

Global Civic Sharing (GCS)
Global Civic Sharing is a non-profit organization providing development aid to poor communities in different countries, especially lower-developed countries. The organization was established in 1998 in South Korea. GCS’s mission is to help neighbors around the globe to strive and develop civic societies. They are currently putting efforts into the eradication of poverty and hunger for younger generations in Vietnam, East Timor, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and China. They are also providing educational support to the countries to achieve universal primary education. The vision of GCS is IDEA, which stands for International Development, Education and Advocacy; this vision is values sharing and providing service to communities, bringing positive change throughout the world and eliminating worldwide discrimination including gender, race and religion. GCS declares its objectives to carry out development assistance projects, support civil society empowerment, provide emergency relief assistance and support the victims of natural disasters and conflicts among nations. They implemented public relations and education programs, supported by Korean volunteer groups and Samsung, the strongest supporter of GCS. The organization strongly encourages university undergraduates to participate in their domestic and international campaigns.

The UN Millennium Goal was established in 2000 and the whole globe is putting forth efforts to achieve a better world by 2015. Supporting NGOs and providing service to our neighborhood would be a valuable experience for university students. Moreover, it would give us an opportunity to be responsible in our society as a part of the intellectual group. In this regard, you will benefit from helping others to strive.