Taekwang Industrial Supports Vocational Education for Vulnerable Children’s Independence

'TaeKwang Industrial Geunbit Nanum Crowdfunding' Fund Donation Ceremony Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Since 2013, Taekwang Industrial, which has been sponsoring self-reliance funds for children from vulnerable groups, is partnering with the social enterprise Soif this year to provide vocational education for the true independence of children. Soif is a preliminary social enterprise that generates profits through design products and provides design vocational education and job linkage to youth in childcare facilities.

On the 13th, Taekwang Industrial announced that it held a fund transfer ceremony for the "Taekwang Industrial Big Light Sharing Mask Crowdfunding" at its headquarters in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, and supported Soif with a total of about 36 million KRW, including production costs and all profits. Soif plans to use all the donations for design vocational education and social training costs for children aging out of protection. About 10 executives and employees attended the event, including Hong Hyun-min, CEO of Taekwang Industrial Petrochemical Business Division, Park Jae-yong, CEO of Textile Business Division, and Ko Dae-hyun, CEO of Soif.

Previously, Taekwang Industrial, together with Soif, produced a functional mask called the ‘Ace Cool Mask’ and conducted crowdfunding to support the independence and education of children aging out of group homes (child protection facilities that provide small-scale care services for seven or fewer children and youth who need protection to live in a residential environment similar to a general family).

The mask was made using functional differentiated yarns from Taekwang Industrial and Daehan Chemical Fiber, with design participation from Soif and children aging out of protection. All 3,000 masks prepared were sold out within 99 hours of opening, and the funding was closed early in just four days. The mask was very popular during the hot summer due to its 99.9% antibacterial effect, UV protection, quick-drying function, and lightweight features. There have been continuous requests for additional production so far.

Hong Hyun-min, CEO of Taekwang Industrial, said, "Thanks to many people, we are pleased and grateful to have successfully completed the Big Light Sharing crowdfunding," and added, "Taekwang Industrial will continue to provide systematic support for the independence of children aging out of protection through sponsorship of social enterprises like Soif."

Meanwhile, since May 2013, Taekwang Industrial has been sponsoring the 'Didim Seed Bank' to help children living in group homes become independent. Over the past seven years, it has supported about 130 children with more than 330 million KRW, and plans to increase the number of sponsored children to about 120 by May 2023, supporting a total of 500 million KRW.

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