Last fall, what began as a hands-on learning experience in Southeast Asia became a journey that took five Mason Korea students to the heart of global food policy — and left a mark along the way.
The Mason Korea SDGs Builders — Seongjun Park, Jaehee Yang, Hyunseo Lee, Damin Jeong, and Taeyeong Kim — traveled first to Laos for the First Lao National Youth Forum 2025, hosted by FAO Lao PDR and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, themed around climate-resilient and sustainable food systems. The trip was the culmination of three months of preparation, including virtual consultations with FAO technical experts and collaborative planning with Lao and Chinese youth teams.
At the forum, the student team led a board game session, connecting with young changemakers from across the region. Notably, Mason Korea was the only institution from Korea invited to co-develop content and co-lead sessions. At the Youth Challenge Final Pitch Competition, Mason Korea's CDC Director, Sangyong Lee, also served as a panel judge. Beyond the forum, they visited local farms, met young farmers and NAFC College students, and experienced organic agriculture firsthand.
“We designed the game to make climate-smart agriculture accessible through interactive, youth-centered learning that positions participants as change agents,” said Seongjun Park.
But their journey was only beginning.
The CSA board game the team developed and launched in Laos was selected as a best-practice case, earning the students an invitation to present at the FAO World Food Forum 2025 in Rome. Supported by Mason Korea's Career Development Center, the SDGs Builders traveled onward to FAO Headquarters, one of the world's most prominent gatherings of policymakers, researchers, youth leaders, and innovators working to transform global agrifood systems.
The board game they had piloted with Lao youth now took center stage at the FAO Food Exhibition, where the team presented their Farm Smart Lao Climate-Smart Agriculture tool to delegates from around the world. They hosted interactive sessions, exchanged ideas with FAO experts and global youth organizations, and joined FAO's official youth podcast to discuss climate-resilient food systems.
“It was incredibly meaningful to see a project our team started with Lao youth grow into something we could share with the global community at FAO Headquarters in Rome,” said Jaehee Yang.
From village farms in Laos to the floors of a UN agency in Rome, these five students demonstrated that meaningful contributions to the world's most pressing challenges don't have to wait until after graduation.
The team also expressed gratitude to FAO Lao PDR, FAO PLO in ROK, and CDC Director Sangyong Lee for their support.
With this year's FAO program set to take the journey to Nepal and then Rome, Mason Korea students are encouraged to watch for opportunities to be part of the next chapter.
