Transformation into a Cultural and Artistic Space
with Candle and Soap Making Activities
The "Senior Center Cultural Workshop Project," promoted by Haenam County in Jeollanam-do to support healthy leisure activities and emotional well-being for seniors, is receiving a great response from the local community.
On July 18, Haenam County announced, "Since the end of May, the cultural workshop program has been running at 30 senior centers in the county, with over 400 seniors participating so far."
The project aims to improve the quality of life for seniors and expand social communication through a variety of cultural and artistic programs, including art and crafts. Local artists and professional instructors visit the senior centers to offer tailored classes.
The "Senior Center Cultural Workshop Project" promoted by Haenam County, Jeollanam-do, is receiving great response within the local community. Photo by Haenam County
The main activities include practical and creative experiences such as planting succulents, making natural soap and candles, crafting square lamp lights, sock yarn crafts, producing artworks for exhibitions in connection with the village art museum, and woodworking kitchenware.
Yoon (81), a senior who participated in the program, shared, "I enjoyed making candles and diffusers, which I thought only young people did. Spending time laughing with neighbors at the senior center seems to help prevent dementia and improve my health."
In addition to the cultural workshop project, the county is expanding senior leisure programs in various ways. Through the "9988 Happy Senior Center Program" in collaboration with the Haenam County branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, the county supports a range of activities including recreation, calligraphy classes, book nanta, and senior magic. The public health center also provides health exercises, yoga, and mobile medical services to 177 senior centers through its cancer management and integrated mental health promotion projects.
Furthermore, the "Neulchan Delivery Lecture" program operated by the Haenam Education Foundation supported educational programs such as tea ceremony, daily exercise, and Hwaseonmu (Korean dance) for 1,234 seniors at 117 senior centers in the first half of this year.
A county official stated, "Senior centers, where most seniors spend their time, are now transforming from simple resting places into vibrant cultural spaces. We will continue to discover and develop diverse content so that senior centers become places seniors want to visit every day."
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