[Report] "Walking Together Made Us Happy"... Special Osaka Trip of Young Adults Standing on Their Own

Norang Poongseon, 4th 'Dream Making' Project
Overseas Travel Support for Travel-Disadvantaged
18 Youth Preparing for Independence, 3-Day Memory Making Trip

On the rainy spring day of the 9th, Seonghun Lee (pseudonym), a university student on a package tour to Osaka, Japan, handed out pre-prepared hand warmers to his peers while boarding the tour bus to Kyoto for the morning schedule. He used the 5,070 yen (about 45,000 won) prepaid card provided by the travel agency, not for himself but for his fellow travelers to buy snacks at local convenience stores. The weather was quite chilly that day, with a morning low of 7 degrees Celsius and strong winds. Lee said, "I prepared them because some friends said it was cold and rainy the day before."

This package tour was Lee’s first overseas trip in his life. Majoring in theology at university, he put aside midterm exam preparations and set off on the trip with excitement. The group consisted of 18 people: 11 women aged 20 to 23 and 7 men. Although their hometowns and residences varied, they shared the commonality of being 'youth preparing for independence.' This term refers to young people who, due to the absence of parents or lack of suitable guardians or caregivers, have been under the protection of child care facilities, group homes, or foster care facilities, and who typically begin living independently after their protection period ends at age 18.

Officials from Norangpungseon and participants of the Dream Making Project are taking a commemorative photo with Osaka Castle in Japan as the background.
[Photo by Norangpungseon]

A Short but Profound Journey, Created Together Through Consideration and Communication

They created unforgettable memories over a 2-night, 3-day trip from the 8th to the 10th in Osaka and Kyoto through the 'Dream Making' project, a social contribution activity conducted annually by the direct-sale travel agency Norangpungseon for 'travel disadvantaged' groups with limited opportunities for overseas travel. Hyunwoo Yoo, who has had a keen interest in fashion since middle school, showed off his style wearing an outfit he personally selected fabric for, cut, and decorated. He said, "Since middle school, friends have shown interest in the clothes I wear and even asked me to buy them on their behalf. I have no difficulty cutting, sewing, and attaching accessories to create the style I want."

After departing from Incheon International Airport and flying about two hours, they arrived at Kansai International Airport and visited Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s three great castles alongside Nagoya Castle and Kumamoto Castle, for their first itinerary. They took commemorative photos in small groups against the backdrop of fully bloomed cherry blossoms and continuously pressed their phone camera shutters to capture the local scenery.

Participants of the Norangpungseon Dream Making Project are boarding a river cruise in Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan, listening to the guide's explanation.

The next itinerary was a visit to Dotonbori, a representative tourist spot in Osaka. They took a river cruise along the Dotonbori River and also explored the bustling Shinsaibashi shopping district. As the time approached to move for dinner, some participants did not show up at the meeting place, possibly due to the unfamiliarity of the rainy, gloomy weather and being first-timers. The bus arrived at the restaurant about 30 minutes later than scheduled as they searched for and waited for those participants.

The participant who had gotten lost met the tour leader and joined the group much later but, feeling sorry to the others, said, "I don’t feel well" and did not eat dinner. He then left an apologetic message in the group chat. Other participants, who had not complained or frowned at the scene, responded to the message with emoticons to show they were okay.

After finishing their meal and settling into their accommodations in Osaka, participants gathered in small groups in their rooms and talked late into the night. One participant said, "We shared information and difficulties necessary for youth preparing for independence," adding, "The awkwardness eased, and we became much closer."

On the last day, when they could tour local attractions, they visited Arashiyama, a former retreat for Japanese nobility in Kyoto, and the lush bamboo grove of Chikurin. In the afternoon, they also visited historic sites including Kiyomizu-dera, a famous local tourist spot. Walking along forest paths and hills while talking, the participants personally experienced the value of traveling together. Sumin Lee said, "I thought traveling with many people in another country would be difficult, but it was much more fun because there were many people," adding, "I talked with every participant without exception, laughed a lot during the trip, and it was a happy time."

Participants of the Norangpungseon Dream Making Project are visiting Arashiyama in Kyoto, Japan, walking through Chikurin, a lush bamboo forest.

Dream Making for Socially Vulnerable Groups... Expanding Substance and Scope

Norangpungseon started the Dream Making project in 2018 and has held the event every year except during the COVID-19 period. This was the fourth time. Under the vision of 'Sharing Together,' the goal is to support travel for the travel disadvantaged by utilizing their core business of travel. The previous three projects were held in Okinawa, Japan; Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand; and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, targeting low-income single-parent and grandparent-headed families and elementary school children. This year, for the first time, young adults preparing for independence were selected as participants. The social welfare nonprofit organization 'Together Love Field,' which has been supporting socially vulnerable groups for 37 years since 1987, proposed accompanying the group.

Jung-ho Kim, assistant manager of the domestic business team at Together Love Field, said, "Although youth preparing for independence are adults socially, they must prepare and decide on independence, education, and employment on their own without help from parents or caregivers, so they feel overwhelmed and anxious," adding, "They struggle not only with financial concerns but also with finding direction for their careers." The reason for extending a hand to the Dream Making project was the hope that these youths could share worries and communicate with peers to help plan their futures even a little.

Selected participants underwent two preliminary meetings last month to get to know each other's names and faces and to share favorite foods, activities, and ways they overcame burnout or difficult moments, narrowing the distance between them. Participant Hyungsoo Yoon emphasized, "Through this trip, I was able to develop independence and confidence," adding, "It was a valuable time to broaden my horizons."

Some participants actively sought career paths. Donggyu Kim, a professional Japanese travel guide, said, "During this trip, one participant who speaks Japanese showed interest in guide work and asked various questions," adding, "Even after the itinerary ends, if they have further questions, I plan to help." One young participant expressed aspirations, saying, "I want to become a social worker who delivers dreams and hope to children experiencing similar environments in the future."

A survey conducted after the event showed that 67% of participants said they were 'very satisfied.' Including those who were generally satisfied, positive evaluations reached 90%. An anonymous survey participant said, "I have never had a peaceful rest since leaving the orphanage," adding, "Through this trip, I met new friends and was able to focus entirely on resting, which made me happy." Another participant wrote, "It was an opportunity to look at others and reflect on myself." Norangpungseon and Together Love Field plan to hold a post-event meeting called 'Dream Preview' with participants within this month. It will be a time to reminisce about the trip through photos and videos and share unfinished stories. All participants will also share their impressions of the trip, future plans, goals, and career paths.

The Dream Making project is growing amid interest from participants and related industries. Sangwook Park, general affairs team leader at Norangpungseon, said, "Other industries such as manufacturing, distribution, and finance, which sympathize with the purpose of the event, have been steadily seeking collaboration," adding, "We are also considering expanding the target participants and the number of annual trips."