Mapo-gu Operates Special Skill Development Programs for Elementary and Adolescent Students

Selected Over 50 Youth Clubs, Providing Mentors, Activity Spaces, and Club Support Funds... Elementary Chinese Online Classes Held, Tuesday and Thursday Sessions from April 13 to June 17

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is recruiting youth clubs for the ‘Seuseuro Project’ to develop the talents and aptitudes of teenagers and to help foster a healthy peer culture and enhance cultural sensitivity among youth.

As part of the Mapo Innovation Education District Project, the ‘Seuseuro Project,’ promoted together with the Mapo Public Mangwon Youth Culture Center (Director Heesoo Lee), is a program designed to activate autonomous and continuous club activities among local youth by building networks utilizing human and material resources in the community, thereby supporting the creation of venues for information exchange and communication among teenagers.

This year’s recruitment for the ‘Seuseuro Project’ youth clubs is open until March 25, and the district plans to select and support around 50 clubs.

Any club composed of five or more youths residing or attending school in Mapo-gu can apply regardless of the field. Applicants can download the application form from the Mapo Public Mangwon Youth Culture Center website, fill it out, and submit it via email (rnjsalswns12@naver.com).

The final participating clubs will be selected through a document review by a governance committee consisting of public, private, and academic representatives. Activities will begin in mid-April, with support including activity funds up to 1.25 million KRW and professional education from village instructor mentors.

Meanwhile, the district is also recruiting for the ‘Mapo-gu and Yonsei University Online Chinese Program for Elementary Students’ until March 19.

Considering the COVID-19 situation, this Chinese program will be conducted via real-time video lectures (native speakers alternating with Korean professional instructors) from April 13 to June 17 over 10 sessions.

A total of 48 students will be recruited, with 24 students in the Tuesday class and 24 in the Thursday class. To enhance student concentration during online lectures, each class will be limited to 8 students, providing level-based and customized instruction.

However, due to the nature of online classes, students must have a laptop or a computer equipped with a webcam and microphone to participate.

The program is open to elementary school students in grades 3 to 6 residing in Mapo-gu. Applications can be submitted through the ‘Communication and Participation - Integrated Online Application’ menu on the Mapo-gu Office website by March 19.

The participation fee is 300,000 KRW per person, of which 150,000 KRW is subsidized by the district. For children from low-income families such as basic livelihood security recipients, the participation fee is fully covered within 10% of the total participants.

Mayor Yudonggyun of Mapo-gu said, “Although COVID-19 is restricting various activities for students, the district will continuously provide programs that can be safely conducted to actively support students in discovering and developing their talents and abilities.”