Ediya Coffee sponsors UN veterans' youth exchange camp launch

Ediya Coffee said Saturday it sponsored the launch ceremony of the UN Veterans Nations Future Generation Exchange Camp by providing coffee and snacks to participants.

At the kickoff event held Thursday at the HL Human Resources Development Institute in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the company offered attendees decaffeinated Americanos and two varieties of Dubai Chewy Cookie.

Organized by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans, the camp is an international exchange program designed to carry forward the bond forged between South Korea and UN member states that fought in the Korean War. This year's camp runs from Thursday through Wednesday — six nights and seven days — across Seoul and Busan, with 144 young participants from 13 countries, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The sponsorship also reflects a special connection between Ediya Coffee and Ethiopia. Ethiopia sent the Kagnew Battalion to fight alongside UN forces during the Korean War, and this year's camp features the Kagnew Choir — made up of descendants of Ethiopian veterans — who gave a special performance at the launch ceremony.

The name "EDIYA" is derived from a language spoken by an Ethiopian tribe, and the company uses Ethiopian beans in its signature blended coffee.

Ediya Coffee has also maintained veterans' welfare activities in support of descendants of Ethiopian war veterans. In 2023, it signed an MOU with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans to run a project supporting those descendants.