[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Im Taek) announced on the 20th that it has been selected for the "Customized Employment Support for Care Neighbors Youth" contest hosted by Gwangju City, securing a project fund of 70 million KRW and will implement the Hope Stepping Stone Project starting next month.
The Hope Stepping Stone Project is a welfare program aimed at low-income youth (aged 18 to 34) that provides various supports such as obtaining certifications for employment, family coaching, employment linkage, and encouragement of employment motivation to help them achieve economic stability and return from the legally defined low-income group to general residents.
Dong-gu plans to provide basic employment support such as aptitude tests, career counseling, certification acquisition, and employment special lectures for 40 unemployed youth aged 18 to 34 who are care neighbors or reclusive loners.
In addition, psychological counseling and healing programs will be conducted for the participants and their families to strengthen bonds through restoring relationships among family members and to link this to successful employment or entrepreneurship.
The district has formed a consortium with the International Career Center, a specialized job agency, to provide employment and entrepreneurship support for the participants and plans to continuously conduct follow-up management such as listening to difficulties and linking employment for the unemployed even after the project ends.
Recruitment of participants will be conducted through a full survey and individual applications.
Im Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, said, "I hope that many young people will succeed in employment and entrepreneurship through customized support for care and reclusive youth," adding, "I also hope that vulnerable youth will be able to freely pursue their dreams and happily engage in social activities."
Meanwhile, Dong-gu achieved the result of 13 people finding employment or starting businesses through the Hope Stepping Stone Project last year.
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