The Power of Gwanak-gu Volunteerism Shining Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

21 Dong Volunteer Camps Promote Voluntary COVID-19 Prevention Activities... Distribute Masks and Provide Guidelines to Vulnerable Groups Including Elderly Living Alone and Suspected Socially Isolated Households

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee), composed of 21 district volunteer camps made up of resident volunteers, is taking the lead in visiting preventive activities targeting vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Gwanak-gu is making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the local community, but concerned that it would be difficult to spread preventive activity guidelines to all residents through local government response alone, it decided under the guidance of the Gwanak-gu Volunteer Center to directly visit residents vulnerable to disaster information door-to-door to disseminate preventive behavior guidelines.

To this end, the 21 district volunteer camps prepared masks themselves and visited residents relatively vulnerable to disaster information, such as elderly people living alone and households suspected of social isolation, delivering masks and providing guidance on preventive measures.

In particular, they check whether there are any difficulties in daily life and confirm their well-being, and if additional signs of crisis are detected, they immediately request a visit consultation at the district community service center, playing a solid role as a community safety net.

Volunteer camp leader Lee OO (60), who is active in the activities, said, “Through home visits, I clearly feel that residents’ anxiety about the recent COVID-19 virus is considerable. Especially, many elderly people living alone or those socially isolated were unable to purchase masks or were unaware of preventive information,” adding, “We will continue preventive activities targeting vulnerable groups to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Also, the Gwanak-gu Volunteer Center delivered energy-boosting drinks sponsored by the Seoul Volunteer Center to local screening clinics, health centers, district community service centers, and senior centers to support and encourage personnel burdened with heavy workloads.

The 21 district volunteer camps in Gwanak-gu have been practicing resident-led volunteering since their establishment in 2006, showing great interest in neighbors and the community.

Since the launch of the visiting district community service center in 2016, they have helped residents in welfare blind spots receive appropriate support and practiced love for struggling residents by sharing kimchi and side dishes with single-parent families through the “We Are Strong! Mom愛yo” project.

As efforts by local governments and residents to prevent the spread of COVID-19 continue, the belief of the district volunteer camps to pay attention to the village and surrounding neighbors is shining even amid the COVID-19 virus crisis.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “The COVID-19 situation occurring worldwide is difficult to completely prevent the spread through local government response alone,” adding, “I deeply appreciate the voluntary preventive activities of local residents through the district volunteer camps and will do my best to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community as it enters a new phase.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.