An international project started in 2010 to enhance mutual understanding between Korea and Southeast Asian countries has led to the creation of educational materials to promote the values of understanding, peace and human rights.

Organizers from the Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding did this through the power of storytelling.

“Telling tales from Southeast Asia and Korea” was launched this month.

Teachers in East Asia can promote mutual understanding in English and other languages including Korean, and by accessing some 27 folktales from 11 Southeast Asian countries and Korea, as well as beautifully drawn pictures illustrating the stories, organizers said.

“We are dedicated to promoting the universal values of peace, human rights and multiculturalism here,” said Kim Kwang-hyun, head of the publication and information team at the APCEIU.

Organizers said that multicultural education was becoming an integral part of primary school curriculums as the number of multicultural families here increase, especially those from Southeast Asia.

Three years in the making, “Telling tales from Southeast Asia and Korea” brings educational tools and materials to teachers in Korea and across Southeast Asia.

By accessing these materials through the e-learning website, educators can promote cultural knowledge among primary school children, and give one of the first lessons children should learn: how to get along with each other.

The website, found at asianfolktales.unescoapceiu.org/index.htm, provides text and illustrations of the many stories, as well as video clips both in English and the official languages of the 12 participating countries, including Korean.

Large picture cards illustrating each of the folktales, as depicted on the website, are also available.

The APCEIU, established in 2000 by Korea and UNESCO, seeks to promote international understanding in the Asia-Pacific.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)