Social Skills Enhancement Program for Local Seniors
In Its 3rd Year, Supporting 3,500 Seniors This Year
Home Visits and Care Services Including Welfare Checks
POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jin-su) has embarked on a win-win activity to support the emotional well-being and social skills of vulnerable groups in the local community by making bread with elderly people living alone and donating it.
On the 27th, the Maeumi-eum Flower Arrangement Volunteer Group under Gwangyang Steelworks held an emotional support program for elderly people living alone at a community center in Gwangyang City, where they made bread together with the seniors and held an event to donate it.
Gwangyang Steelworks held a baking event to provide emotional support for elderly people living alone in the community. ［Photo by Gwangyang Steelworks］
Founded in 2017, the Maeumi-eum Volunteer Group is a communication and healing-type volunteer group addressing the increasingly prominent issue of elderly isolation, with about 100 members warmly accompanying elderly people living alone in the district.
The Maeumi-eum Volunteer Group conducts the annual "Warm Care and Maeumi-eum" project to practice coexistence with local elderly people.
Now in its third year, the project has involved 2,915 volunteers supporting 3,474 elderly people so far, fostering a culture of sharing.
The purpose of the event was to promote social activities among elderly people who usually have little interaction with neighbors through baking activities, naturally enhancing their social skills and providing emotional support.
Moreover, with the help of volunteer members, the elderly took charge of the entire bread-making process, including kneading the dough, fermentation, shaping, and baking in the oven, and also participated in box packaging, making their contribution to the baking activity meaningful.
The completed bread will be donated to senior centers where the elderly belong, along with separate beverages, and will also be delivered directly to the homes of elderly people with mobility difficulties.
In particular, during home visits, communication activities such as checking on the seniors’ well-being and keeping them company will be conducted, allowing for the assessment of the living conditions of vulnerable groups who require ongoing social attention, and providing care services to promptly respond if any risk situations are discovered.
An elderly participant in the event said, "I am grateful to Gwangyang Steelworks for organizing such a wonderful event," and added, "I hope these activities will continue in the future."
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr
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