Gyeonggi-do to Host 'Self-Reliant Youth Gathering' at Talent Development Center on June 1

Poster for Gyeonggi-do's Independent Youth Harmony Festival

Gyeonggi Province will hold a Youth Independence Support Gathering.

On May 31, Gyeonggi Province announced that it will hold the "2024 Youth Independence Support Mentor-Mentee Togetherness Gathering" event on June 1 at the gymnasium of the Gyeonggi Human Resources Development Institute in Jangan-gu, Suwon.

This event was planned to encourage bonding and small group activities by bringing together children under protection in child welfare facilities and foster care, as well as youth preparing for independence whose protection has ended, as mentors and mentees. The event is hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by Hope Neoul, the Gyeonggi Province Independence Support Agency.

The main activities include ▲a pledge ceremony by the mentor-mentee representatives ▲a challenge ball ceremony where participants write hopeful messages on balls and ride the waves to reach the target point ▲and a commemorative photo session with all participants holding towel pickets.

Yoo So-jeong, Director of the Child Care Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Through this mentor-mentee togetherness gathering, we hope that youth preparing for independence will have a stepping stone to demonstrate greater capabilities as the center of our society. We also hope this meaningful time will help them feel that they are never alone in difficult times and that they always have family, seniors, or friends to share their concerns with."

Meanwhile, since last year, Gyeonggi Province has been promoting the Mentor-Mentee Togetherness project to connect mentors who will participate as social family members providing emotional support and assistance to youth preparing for independence. Hope Neoul, the Gyeonggi Province Independence Support Agency (www.ggjarip.or.kr), accepts new mentor-mentee applications year-round.