One Becomes Two, Two Becomes Four Mentoring ... Gumi-si Sangmo-Sagok-dong

Bongsunga Academy Graduates Second Discovery

Provided Companionship and Check-ins for 102 Connected Individuals

On the 16th at 2 PM, Sangmo-Sagok-dong in Gumi City held the ‘Bongsunga School 2nd Mentoring Event’ in the large conference room on the 3rd floor of the Dong Administrative Welfare Center. The event was attended by 20 members of the Community Social Security Council (Chairperson Byun Young-sun) and ‘Bongsunga School’ graduates who identified 102 elderly living alone in the neighborhood and issued partnership certificates.

Sangmo-Sagok-dong, Gumi City, which held the 'Bongsunga Academy 2nd Term Mentoring Event'.

At the event, 13 graduates of ‘Bongsunga School’ identified elderly living alone in vulnerable groups such as one-room apartments at a ratio of 1:3 and issued mentoring (1st term) partnership certificates to 52 people. Then, the 1st term mentoring participants identified elderly living alone at a 1:1 ratio, held the ‘2nd term mentoring’ for 102 elderly people, and formed partnerships.

Additionally, the connected mentors and mentees frequently checked on each other and became companions, helping to alleviate the loneliness experienced by those living alone in one-room apartments and fostering a happy life together with neighbors. Mentoring friends were paired, and coupons for the Happiness Sharing Store were distributed.

Kim Seong-hak, head of Sangmo-Sagok-dong, said, “I am grateful to the elderly who worked hard to identify participants, growing from 13 graduates of ‘Bongsunga School 2nd Mentoring’ to 52 and then 102 people. I hope mentoring leads to a happier life.” He also expressed encouragement to the members of the Community Social Security Council who worked together.

Sangmo-Sagok-dong operates Bongsunga School, which has boosted the self-esteem of students in their 70s and 80s. It identifies elderly living alone in welfare blind spots such as one-room apartments, conducts mentoring by checking on their well-being and providing companionship, and shares vegetables produced in the Bongsunga garden (three times), rice cake soup from the Community Social Security Council, and Happiness Sharing Store coupons with mentoring elderly. Through this successful mentoring, they are dedicating great effort to creating a neighborhood without lonely deaths.