Seodaemun-gu Cares for the Community through '1 Camp 1 Annyeong' Volunteer Program

From May to November this year, each neighborhood is promoting specialized volunteer projects... including mask making in myeon areas, sharing side dishes and checking on neighbors, and supporting local businesses.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) is energizing neighborhoods weary from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through the ‘1 Camp 1 Annyeong’ project, which has been underway from May to November this year at each dong volunteer camp.

The ‘dong volunteer camps’ serve as volunteer hubs operated in each dong to allow any resident to participate nearby, with about 110 members currently active across 14 dong camps.

The name ‘1 Camp 1 Annyeong’ was chosen to embody the purpose of ‘residents checking on their neighbors’ well-being to create a safe and secure community.’

Each dong volunteer camp has selected projects needed in their neighborhoods, such as ▲making cloth masks and distributing mask necklaces to prevent COVID-19 ▲sharing side dishes and checking on elderly living alone ▲supporting local businesses, and is carrying out these projects in cooperation with local professional organizations.

The Hongje 2-dong, Hongje 3-dong, and Hongeun 2-dong volunteer camps plan to produce 2,900 cloth masks to be delivered to elderly and disabled facilities and participants in the Hope Job Project.

The Yeonhui-dong camp is producing mask necklaces to help wear masks hygienically, while the Bukahyeon-dong, Hongeun 1-dong, and Cheonyeon-dong camps regularly share side dishes for elderly living alone.

The Namgajwa 1-dong camp is supporting neighborhood stores by making and gifting ‘dried flower frames’ and is also conducting a campaign to encourage the use of local businesses.

Additionally, each camp plans to implement projects such as ▲sharing samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) for a healthy summer ▲making and gifting buckwheat pillows ▲campaigning to maintain safe speeds in school zones ▲producing and distributing mask kits with youth participation.

One resident said, “Volunteering to make cloth masks helped me forget the boredom caused by COVID-19 and gave me vitality through the thought of helping neighbors.”

Starting this month, the district will provide expert consulting support for the operation of the 1 Camp 1 Annyeong project targeting the dong volunteer camps.

Also, representatives from each dong camp will hold monthly meetings to share progress and improvement plans, and at the November performance sharing event, they will present outstanding cases and participation impressions.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, stated, “The warm hearts and actions of volunteers are being conveyed as seeds of hope to neighbors struggling due to COVID-19,” and added, “We will continue to actively support the dong volunteer camps, which are the grassroots centers of volunteerism.”

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