Yongsan-gu 'Resident Technology School' Spreads Positive Influence and Gains Resident Support: What’s the Story?

Hoarding Disorder, Need to Improve Poor Living Conditions Due to Increase in Companion Dog Population...Pet Caregivers and Professional Organizers Participate as Interns...Resident Technology School to Operate from September to Train 'Life Management Care Experts'

On the 11th, the New and Innovative Rescue Team of the District Social Economy Integrated Support Center visited basic livelihood security households in the area to assist with organizing and storage as well as resolving issues related to companion dogs.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Until now, I had a hard time because I neither threw things away nor organized them, so household items and dog supplies were all mixed together. Especially my daughter's room was a problem, but thank you so much for organizing it neatly. I will use the organizing methods I learned today to keep it clean from now on.”

Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) Social Economy Integrated Support Center’s ‘Resident Skills School’ is spreading positive influence and receiving great responses from residents.

On the 11th, the center visited low-income households in the area and carried out the Shinbakhan Rescue Team project. The work took place at the home of Lee Su-hyun (alias, 43) in Huam-dong. The household needed internal space organization because Lee suffers from hoarding disorder.

Also, due to the uncontrolled increase in the number of companion dogs, improving the poor living environment was urgent.

Accordingly, the Shinbakhan Rescue Team took the lead to solve the organizing and companion dog issues. Trainees from the Resident Skills School’s pet care and organizing expert courses participated in the rescue team. They, along with volunteers, actively stepped up to help residents in need in the community.

The rescue team first moved seven companion dogs to a safe place. Then, they gathered miscellaneous items, trash, old home appliances, and unused belongings that Lee had accumulated and took them outside the house.

Some took charge of the rooms, others the kitchen and bathroom, and started cleaning. They also collected about 20 bags of laundry from the house, washed them at a self-support center, and arranged them. As the amount of items decreased, the usable space became wider than ever before.

Next, they decided to discard all old bedding that could no longer be used. Considering Lee’s family enduring the cold weather, volunteers pooled their own money to donate new beds.

Additionally, to prevent diseases among the companion dogs living in the household and to maintain hygiene, neutering surgeries were completed.

The center plans to continue internal environment improvement projects by visiting low-income families with children under 12 years old in connection with the district’s Dream Start project.

Since last September, the center has been fostering life management care experts and forming a pilot project team through the operation of the Resident Skills School. Next year, it will establish a more systematic business model and support the establishment of local management companies. By 2022, it is expected that local management companies with sustainable jobs will begin full operation.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Social economy has steadily developed to the stage of communicating with local residents,” and added, “We will continue to nurture local management companies and steadily solve the shortage of jobs and social service issues.”

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