POSCO 1% Nanum Foundation Expands Employment Support for Youth Aging Out of Care

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation is expanding the Do Dream project, which aims to establish a foundation for self-reliance among vulnerable youth.

Do Dream is a program that has supported the independence and employment of youth aging out of child protection facilities upon turning 18 since 2018, having supported a total of about 40 individuals over the past two years.

Starting this year, the target scale, which previously supported 20 people annually, will be expanded to 35 people. In addition to self-reliance support funds, the program will add employment special lectures consisting of employment strategy planning, resume writing, mock interviews, mentoring for emotional stability, and regional gatherings to provide practical help to youth aging out of protection.

Furthermore, a new 'Sinsayuramdan' program has been established to select some outstanding participants after the support period ends, allowing them to broaden their horizons through overseas cultural experiences.

The self-reliance support fund is composed of an annual education fee of 5 million KRW, living expenses of 3 million KRW, clothing and interview preparation expenses of 1 million KRW, and an employment success allowance of 1 million KRW, providing up to 10 million KRW per person to help them focus on career development and succeed in employment.

Lee Bo-gum (pseudonym), who realized his dream of becoming a social worker through Do Dream last year, said, "The best part was being able to prepare for employment with a comfortable mind, thinking only about my aptitude and career," adding, "Receiving support from living expenses to career support funds and employment success allowance made me feel like I was receiving meticulous care."

Applications for Do Dream participation are open from May 11 to 27 on the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation website and the Korea Child Welfare Association website (http://www.adongbokji.or.kr). After document screening and interviews, the final 35 successful candidates will be announced on June 25.

The support targets are youth aging out of child welfare facilities nationwide (including foster care and shelters) who are between 18 and 29 years old and not receiving support from other institutions. Detailed information can be found on the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation website.

The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation expects that through the Do Dream project, youth aging out of protection preparing for employment will be provided with various experiences and practical opportunities for self-reliance, enabling a more stable entry into society.

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