How Are Seongdong-gu Youth Spending Their 'Wise Stay-at-Home Life'?

Seongdong-gu Public Seongdong Youth Culture House Conducts 'Seongdong-gu Class for Youth' Program... Various Online Activities Including Learning Support, Encouragement Comments, and Home Game Competitions

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Wono) ‘District Youth Culture House’ operates the ‘Seongdong-gu Class for Youth’ program for so-called ‘homebound’ youth who are struggling with both school life and outdoor activities due to COVID-19.

The ‘Seongdong-gu Class for Youth’ is an activity supported online and through other means, dividing the after-school programs previously operated at the Seongdong District Youth Culture House, alternative schools, and youth participation committees into three themes: ▲Learning ▲Activities ▲Meals.

The ‘Learning’ section addresses the learning gaps of youth who use after-school learning programs affected by the prolonged closure. Youth instructors check and support self-study situations via phone and email. They provide online services such as career tests, college admission information, and daily assignments for major subjects, supporting learning and especially filling the gap during daytime hours when parents are absent, which has received positive responses.

The ‘Activities’ section is a COVID-19 stress relief program under the subtitle ‘Wise Homebound Life,’ designed to prevent active youth from feeling frustrated, depressed, or lonely by refraining from going out.

Youth instructors film videos of making dalgona coffee, sandwiches, and 3D pen character creation, then send them online. They also hold various communication events through SNS, allowing youth to emotionally connect with friends they have not seen for a long time. The program includes campaigns such as ‘Leave COVID-19 Overcoming Support Comments at Home,’ ‘Wise Homebound Life ? Cooking Edition, Exercise Edition,’ and other activities that can be enjoyed at home instead of going out or group activities, sparking interest by encouraging youth to propose activities themselves. It is a real-time participation format, and participants who submit photos or certification shots of their activities receive gifts such as snacks and safety kits.

At the end of this month, a ‘Room Corner Game Tournament’ is also planned. Several youth will form teams with instructors and simultaneously connect from their homes to hold an online game tournament. Recruitment of participating youth is currently underway.

A center official said, “Considering the youth’s tendency to easily get tired if only the ‘Learning’ section is emphasized, we prepared a game tournament where teachers and friends can all gather online and enjoy communicating together,” adding, “The children’s response has already been enthusiastic.”

Additionally, concerned that youth who used to have dinner at the Culture House might resort to instant meals at home due to the closure, the ‘Meals’ section operates a ‘Visiting Delivery Sharing Service’ that delivers a week’s worth of semi-prepared foods, instant rice, side dishes, and dairy products directly to their homes.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “As the COVID-19 situation prolongs, attention and support for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children, as well as youth who require practical daily life management, are important,” and added, “We will continue to make various efforts to share a bright future with our youth.”

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