Seongbuk District Residents Show Enthusiastic Participation in 'Dong Welfare University'

Jangwi 1-dong Completes 4th Training Session on 15th... Wolgok 2-dong, All 17 Residents Including Dong Community Security Council Chair Graduate, Expected to Lead in Welfare Sector

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is actively conducting the Dong Welfare University focused on resident-led capacity building.

Jangwi 1-dong Dong Welfare University, which held its entrance ceremony on the 19th of last month, completed a total of four sessions by the 15th of this month. Jangwi 1-dong Dong Welfare University was organized through collaboration among the Jangwi 1-dong Community Security Council, Wolgok Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and the Dong Resident Center, forming a Dong Welfare Planning Group that directly selected the curriculum and invited instructors. Subsequently, 15 local welfare community activists (council members, neighborhood caregivers, residents’ autonomy committee members, elderly living managers, etc.) were recruited and the entrance ceremony was held.

This year marks the first year of Dong Welfare University, emphasizing resident capacity building through professional education. The sessions included ▲1st session (October 19): entrance ceremony, making mask straps for vulnerable children, and watching the human rights film "I, Daniel Blake" ▲2nd session (October 25): lecture on "Creating a Happy Village Where Human Rights and Welfare Breathe" ▲3rd session (November 8): lecture on "Why We Are Here - Community as the True Vaccine" and the completion ceremony ▲4th session (November 15): community activity (a walk in Bukseoul Dream Forest) and completion meeting (education satisfaction survey, etc.).

The participants said, “Our beginning is humble, but we learned how each small effort can be gathered to help the local community, and we have come to expect that small hands together can change Jangwi 1-dong.”

Park Min-taek, head of Jangwi 1-dong, stated, “In the second year of Dong Welfare University next year, we will prepare a more systematic curriculum so that residents can directly identify problems in their lives and help each other to solve them.”

In Wolgok 2-dong, since last month, the Dong Welfare University has been conducted in cooperation with the Dong Community Security Council and Wolgok Comprehensive Social Welfare Center. The education focused on learning the necessity of resident-led Dong welfare and directly discovering and implementing Dong welfare agendas.

Starting with the formation of the planning group in October, 17 residents active in the village enrolled in the Welfare University. After completing capacity building education, community activities, and agenda discovery processes, all trainees completed the course through a graduation ceremony held on the 23rd.

The graduation ceremony proceeded in the order of ▲watching a video reviewing Dong Welfare University ▲congratulatory performance by a graduate representative (harmonica) ▲presentation of diplomas (graduation albums) ▲guest speeches ▲graduates’ remarks ▲group commemorative photo.

Yoon Jae-sung, chairman of the Dong Community Security Council, said, “Thank you for joining Wolgok 2-dong Dong Welfare University, and as graduates who shared this experience, I hope we can continue to meet regularly and look after and care for neighbors in need together.”

Park Mi-soon, head of Wolgok 2-dong, said, “Those who have long been active on the front lines of welfare in Wolgok 2-dong gathered to spend time reflecting on the community through Dong Welfare University. Healthy leaders inspire the village to dream. Now, those present here must become leaders. I hope those around you will also join hands and work as leaders in our Dong welfare sector.”

Lee Byung-jun, director of Wolgok Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, said, “Now, I hope you become village activists who go out and work in the community rather than just learners. If you encounter difficulties during your activities, please knock on the welfare center’s door, and we will solve them together to make the lives of those in need happier.”

The graduates who participated in this Wolgok 2-dong Dong Welfare University course will have the opportunity to serve as members of the Dong Community Security Council in the future, leading efforts to look after neighbors and solve local welfare issues as leaders.