 |
| The third Peter Heavenly Culture Academy presentation held at the Shincheonji Gwangju Church |
A new youth programme in Gwangju, held during the seasonal school breaks, is offering students a unique opportunity to explore their interests, talents, and possible career paths through structured, hands-on learning.
On 28th February, the Shincheonji Gwangju Church held a presentation of the 3rd term of the Peter Heaven Culture Academy (PHCA), which was held from January 12th to February 27th.
The PHCA is a seasonal programme designed for children and teenagers during the winter holiday period. The programme is organised for youth members of its children and student groups and focuses on experiential learning rather than classroom-only instruction.
The core values of the programme are exploration and experience. The PHCA is designed to help young people better understand themselves by trying a wide range of activities in a supportive group environment. Instead of focusing solely on academic outcomes, the programme emphasises cooperation, creativity, and personal growth through shared experiences.
On this day, students exhibited various performances at a presentation held under the theme of 'A Special Gift for Dreaming Children,' enabling them to showcase on stage the skills they had honed over the past seven weeks.
The PHCA term offered 29 courses grouped into five main areas: culture, music and praise, sports, media, and digital skills. 341 youths brought out their potential through experience and education.
Chae-won Park (female, 13), a student who participated in the Peter Docent programme, said, “I've always struggled with presenting in front of people. This time, I learned not only delivery techniques but also facial expressions and gestures, which gave me a lot of confidence.”
One parent who attended the fair said, “It's easy to get lazy during the holidays, so I really struggled with that. My child seemed to have chosen it himself, so I saw him enjoying learning and practising it at home. I was happy that my child had found something he loved.”
Programme leaders described PHCA as more than a short-term holiday activity. They emphasised its role in helping youth develop balance between personal values, community life, and everyday skills, while learning how to cooperate and grow alongside others.
By offering a wide variety of practical courses in one place, the academy aims to give students space to discover abilities they may not have recognised before, while also experiencing teamwork and responsibility within a shared community setting.
 |
| Parents cheering at the third Peter Heavenly Culture Academy presentation held at the Shincheonji Gwangju Church |
