Gokseong-gun Launches Training for Activists to Promote Grassroots Resident Autonomy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Yoo Geun-gi) is training local activists to revitalize resident autonomy.

According to the county on the 10th, the "Grassroots Resident Autonomy Activist Training Course" is being held every Tuesday and Friday from 2 PM to 5 PM at the Gokseong County Citizens' Hall until the 1st of next month.

This training is a program to cultivate activists who can derive solutions to local issues through democratic discussions by residents themselves and lead the implementation proactively. To enhance the effectiveness of the training, it is conducted as a practical, field-oriented course that can be applied on-site.

The training content first includes communication techniques for resident autonomy (understanding facilitation, democratic meeting techniques, planning and operating discussion sessions, and decision-making methods) arranged in two sessions. Following this, topics such as discovering local agendas, establishing autonomy plans, preparing for residents' general meetings, drafting autonomy activity plans by trainees, presenting activity plans, and feedback to develop the role and skills of resident autonomy activists, including speaking skills, are covered.

The program will address, in a detailed and in-depth manner, step-by-step processes from democratic procedures for proper autonomy to identifying problems, finding solutions, and executing them.

The opening ceremony and the first session were held on the 30th of last month. Min Moon-sik, director of the Jeonnam Village Community Support Center, who served as the instructor, emphasized the importance of resident autonomy and community activities based on various cases of resident autonomy activities. In the second session, Lee Chang-rim, principal of the Democracy Technology School, lectured on democratic communication methods for a healthy community.

A county official stated, "We plan to involve graduates who have attended more than 80% of the sessions in resident autonomy support projects so that they can actually experience resident autonomy."