Gwangju Nam-gu, 'Hope Plus Project' for People with Disabilities and Their Families

Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, is promoting the Hope Plus Project to pursue the happiness of people with disabilities in the local community and their family members.

On the 29th, Nam-gu stated, "People with disabilities and their family members are not able to access various opportunities in daily life due to their disabilities," and added, "Through the Hope Plus Project, which includes play and sports classes, we will provide customized services tailored to each target group."

The Hope Plus Project is a program for women with disabilities, children with disabilities, and parents caring for children with disabilities, and it will be implemented in three forms.

First, the "Beauty and Joy Health Class," involving 20 women with disabilities under the age of 60 in the district, will be held from the 1st of next month at the health education room on the 2nd floor of the Juwol Health Life Center.

This is to alleviate the negative self-perception and psychological anxiety caused by the dual constraints of disability and being female. In fact, a 2021 health management survey of people with disabilities by the National Rehabilitation Center found that women with disabilities have higher prevalence rates of chronic diseases and psychiatric disorders than men with disabilities.

Accordingly, Nam-gu is collaborating with 10 organizations, including the Beauty and Cosmetology Department of Honam University and the Regional Disability Health Care Center, to offer healing class programs such as beauty classes, health education, and natural cosmetics making every Monday until June.

The play and sports class for growing children with disabilities will be held once a week until the end of November.

This is a customized program that provides opportunities for physical activities such as warm-up exercises and tag games according to the physical and emotional developmental levels of children with disabilities, fostering a sense of achievement, confidence, and community spirit.

Special physical education instructors and nursing students from Gwangju University will engage in sports activities with 10 children with disabilities in the district to support their healthy growth.

In addition, Nam-gu will also activate parent groups raising children with severe disabilities.

Since March, a voluntary mentor-mentee self-help group has been held at the book cafe of the Juwol Health Life Support Center. To exchange various information such as experiences and education gained during child-rearing, regular meetings will be held once a month until the end of November.

It is expected to greatly contribute to strengthening the social support system by resolving common concerns through parenting coaching among parents.