Samsung Opens 11th 'Samsung Hope Didimdol' Daejeon Center

Youth Housing Independence Support Centers Open Nationwide
11 Centers Established Over 8 Years Since First Opening
'Hope Stepping Stone 2.0' Expanded to Aid Economic Independence

Samsung announced on the 23rd that it held the opening ceremony of the 11th 'Samsung Hope Didimdol' Daejeon Center, which supports housing stability for youth preparing for independence.

The opening ceremony of the 10th Hope Didimdol Center, Jeonnam Center. From the left, Park Seung-hee, President of Samsung Electronics CR, Seo Dong-wook, Chairman of Jeollanam-do Provincial Council, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, Kim Byung-jun, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

The opening ceremony was attended by about 150 people, including Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City; Kim Mi-ae, member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party; Lee Ju-young, elected member of the Reform New Party; Kim Byung-joon, chairman of the Community Chest of Korea; Ko Geum-ran, deputy director of the Child Rights Protection Agency; Yang Seung-yeon, president of the Daejeon Child Welfare Association; and Park Seung-hee, president in charge of CR at Samsung Electronics. Park Yong-gap, elected member of the Democratic Party, delivered a congratulatory video message.

The Daejeon Center is equipped with 14 independent living rooms, 4 independent experience rooms, and spaces for education and operation. Youth preparing for independence can live in a single room in the independent living quarters for up to two years. Youth aged 15 to 18, whose protection has ended, can stay in the independent experience rooms for a few days to experience independent living in advance. The Daejeon Metropolitan Child Welfare Association manages the operation of the Daejeon Center.

Since the first Hope Didimdol Center opened in Busan in 2016, the number of centers nationwide has increased to 11 with the opening of the Daejeon Center. An additional center in Chungbuk is scheduled to open in October. Youth residing in the centers can focus on preparing for their future by resolving the biggest burden when becoming independent: housing issues.

The centers provide basic life knowledge such as cooking, cleaning, and organizing, as well as financial knowledge, asset management, and career education. Up to last year, a cumulative total of 27,065 youth have received support including independent preparation and independent experience, including those residing in the centers.

Samsung has also been running the economic support program for independent youth, 'Samsung Hope Didimdol 2.0,' since August last year. The program is conducted in collaboration with four organizations: the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Community Chest of Korea, and the Together Foundation.

In the second half of last year, five training courses were launched in fields such as electronics and IT manufacturing, shipbuilding, IT services, baking and confectionery, and semiconductor precision piping. Among 46 graduates, 23 succeeded in finding employment.

This year, four courses including online advertising and promotion practitioners, heavy equipment operator technicians, pet groomers, and nail art beauticians will be sequentially opened starting this month.

In particular, the online advertising and promotion practitioner and heavy equipment operator technician courses, which start this month, attracted many applicants during recruitment, leading to an increase in the planned number of trainees.

Accommodations and meals are provided by opening dormitories at Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and the Samsung Heavy Industries Technical Training Center in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do.

After completing the training, various employment programs such as professional consultant job counseling services and partner company recruitment fairs will be supported.

Hope Didimdol is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity that began in 2013 on the 20th anniversary of the 'Samsung New Management' declaration, initiated by ideas and donations directly from Samsung Electronics employees. The name was also created by the employees.

The centers began operation in 2016 based on employee donations totaling 25 billion KRW. In 2019, an additional 25 billion KRW in company support funds expanded the project areas.

Samsung employees can annually choose their preferred donation recipients among the company's CSR projects and pledge donations. Following last year, Hope Didimdol attracted the largest amount of donations again this year.

Samsung employees actively participate as mentors, sharing their experience and know-how, and engage in talent donation activities such as career and job mentoring.

Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, said, "I hope the Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center becomes a place of hope for youth preparing for independence in Daejeon," and added, "The Daejeon city government will also strive to create quality jobs so that youth preparing for independence can practically become independent beyond housing and economic support."

Chairman Kim Byung-joon said, "We will do our best to ensure that youth learn from failures and successes at the Daejeon Center and settle as members of society."

President Park Seung-hee said, "What youth preparing for independence need is a safe haven and a family-like presence to be their life mentor. This is exactly the role of our society and Hope Didimdol."