Jungnang-gu Operates 'Dong Welfare University' Where Residents Solve Village Welfare Issues Themselves

Some Graduates Appointed as Members of the Happiness Sharing Council... Operated in Myeonmok 2-dong, Myeonmok 4-dong, Muk 1-dong, and Sinnae 1-dong This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) operates the ‘Dong Welfare University’ to enable local residents to identify and solve welfare issues in their neighborhoods on their own.

‘Dong Welfare University’ is an educational program designed to strengthen residents' capabilities through lectures on discovering, planning, and resolving welfare agendas.

This education is part of the Seoul City resident-led community security council activation contest project, where the Dong Community Service Centers, welfare centers, and Dong councils (Happiness Sharing Council) collaborate to provide the curriculum.

In November last year, a public-private consortium agreement ceremony was held to establish an organic cooperative system.

This year, four community service centers?Myeonmok 2-dong, Myeonmok 4-dong, Muk 1-dong, and Sinnnae 1-dong?will operate the Dong Welfare University.

The curriculum consists of a total of seven sessions, including ▲the meaning of resident-led local activities ▲human rights and welfare ▲community activities ▲discovery and support of welfare blind spots ▲Dong welfare agenda workshops, and is scheduled to begin full-scale education from July.

Residents who complete the education may later be appointed as new members of the Dong council and work as resident activists.

Applications began in early June and have already closed due to high demand, with waiting lists forming, reflecting strong popularity among residents.

Reflecting this popularity, the district plans to gradually expand the operating Dongs in the future.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “Dong Welfare University will greatly help strengthen resident capabilities and improve local welfare,” adding, “Through this project, we hope to resolve neighborhood welfare issues and also revitalize the functions of the local community.”