Jeonju City Supports Unemployed Youth's New Start... Providing Psychological Healing and Self-Esteem Recovery Assistance

Published 10 Aug.2020 13:47(KST)

Recruiting 65 Participants for the 'Youth Comma, Project' Until the 21st

Photo by Jeonju City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jae-hee] Jeonju City in Jeollabuk-do supports the psychological healing and self-esteem recovery of unemployed youth amid worsening employment difficulties due to COVID-19 and economic recession.

On the 10th, the city announced that it is recruiting 65 participants for the 11th Youth Comma Project, which encourages a fresh start through psychological counseling and financial support for unemployed youth in the Jeonju area until the 21st.

Participants in the Youth Comma Project receive psychological tests and in-depth counseling from professional psychological counseling institutions, healing camps, follow-up psychological tests, and Youth Comma essays to self-check psychological changes before and after participation, helping them prepare for re-challenge and leap forward.

Additionally, a total of 1.5 million KRW in activity expenses will be provided over three months, 500,000 KRW per month, easing the financial difficulties of youth worried about job preparation, job search activities, and living expenses.

Eligibility requires being an unemployed youth aged 18 to 39 currently registered as a resident in Jeonju City, with household income at or below 150% of the median income, and having graduated or dropped out at least two years ago.

However, current students, students on leave, employment insurance subscribers, unemployment benefit recipients, and participants in government support programs such as the Employment Success Package or Tomorrow Savings are excluded.

The city plans to finalize the selected participants by the 9th of next month through document screening and in-depth interviews and proceed with the final project of this year.

Previously, the city launched the 1st Youth Comma Project in December 2017 and has promoted it up to the 10th session, with a total of about 600 youth participating, including 238 from the 7th to 10th sessions this year.

Youth A, who participated in the Youth Comma Project, said in an essay, “It took me out of the house after months of living without meeting anyone and gave me vitality, leading me to a better version of myself.”

Another youth, B, said, “It became a precious motivation for many youths who lost courage and whose hope for life was fading to take new wings toward their dreams.”

A Jeonju City official said, “We hope that local youth struggling under the weight of life will achieve a hopeful leap forward through the Youth Comma Project,” adding, “We will promote policies that youth can feel and strive to expand benefits.”