Benchmarking Sarasil Art Village and Jungma Disabled Welfare Center
Seeking Future Visions and Innovation in Education, Welfare, and Culture
The Wando Education Welfare Research Association visited the Gwangyang area in South Jeolla Province on July 10 to benchmark best practices in the fields of education and welfare.
This field trip included 13 education and welfare officials, such as Choi Jungwook, chairman of the association and a member of the Wando County Council, Seo Jangpil, former superintendent of Wando Education Office, and Heo Jungsoo, former director of Wando County. The 'Wando Education Welfare Research Association' is a professional organization dedicated to the development of local education and the study of welfare policies, and is composed of education and welfare experts with extensive field experience.
Wando Education Welfare Research Association visited Gwangyang City's 'Sarasil Art Village,' which leads the village education community, to explore education and welfare services mediated by art. Photo by Lee Jungyeong
On this day, the association visited Gwangyang City's 'Sarasil Art Village,' which leads the village education community, to explore education and welfare services mediated by art. This complex cultural space, which opened in December 2016 after remodeling a closed school, offers personality, experiential, career, educational, and healing programs for children and adolescents.
The participants said they were deeply impressed by the dedication of Village Chief Cho Juhyun, who operates the art village, and by Gwangyang City's full financial support. Chief Cho stated, "The South Jeolla Provincial Office of Education and Gwangyang City have been a great support in our efforts to develop local education," and added, "I will continue to quietly fulfill my role in the future."
Next, the association visited the Gwangyang Jungma Disabled Welfare Center to tour the facility and review the current status of disability welfare service operations. The welfare center opened on June 1, 2020, and is operated by the Samdonghoe Social Welfare Foundation under commission from Gwangyang City.
Wando Education Welfare Research Association visited Gwangyang Jungma Disabled Welfare Center to tour the facility and review the current status of disability welfare service operations. Photo by Lee Jungkyung
The center aims to create a local community where people with and without disabilities live together in harmony, and operates programs for various age groups and families through public project funding. A representative of the welfare center stated, "We will respect people with disabilities as equal partners and work together with the local community to drive waves of change."
Previously, the association also attended the '2025 Gwangyang Bay Area Career and University Fair' hosted by the Gwangyang Office of Education, where they explored ways to support career exploration and university admissions for students in the Wando area.
Chairman Choi Jungwook said, "This field trip was a meaningful opportunity to gain practical information not only for the development of education in Wando, but also for disability welfare," and added, "We will continue to do our best for education and welfare activities in the Wando area."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
