Elementary Students in Seodaemun-gu Receive Regular Care Through Our Neighborhood Care Center

Reducing Instant Food and Providing Seasonal Fruits and Ingredients... Supporting Children's Emotional Development through Art Therapy Counseling, Instrument Playing, Gardening, and Cooking Activities... Providing 'Safe and Secure School Arrival Service' with Caregivers Accompanying from School to Center... Posting Activity Photos on Online Community for Parents' Peace of Mind... "Plan to Add 3 More Kiwoom Centers This Year, Focusing on Areas with High Care Demand"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) has expanded various care services to operate the ‘Uri Dongnae Kiwoom Center’ that guardians can trust and entrust, and to support the healthy growth of children using the center.

The Kiwoom Centers, located in four areas within the district?Bukgajwa 1-dong, Yeonhui-dong, Hongje 3-dong, and Hong Eun 2-dong?are spaces where elementary school students can safely receive regular, temporary, and emergency care services near their homes regardless of household income level.

To provide safe food, the district manages overall nutrition, hygiene, and safety conditions including meal and snack preparation hygiene, facility sanitation, and ingredient storage in cooperation with the ‘Seodaemun Children’s Meal Management Support Center.’

Additionally, they ensure high-quality meals for child growth and development by reducing instant foods and providing seasonal fruits and ingredients.

Furthermore, in connection with the ‘Seodaemun-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center,’ various care programs are operated depending on the center, such as child art psychological counseling, musical instrument playing, rooftop garden making, kids chef cooking, Science Day planet bracelet making, and regular outdoor play activities to support children’s healthy emotional development.

In particular, an ‘Safe and Secure School Arrival Service’ is provided for lower-grade children, where care teachers accompany them from the school front to the center, alleviating guardians’ concerns.

In addition, to enhance communication and trust between parents and centers, photos of meals and arrivals, program information, and other notices are posted regularly on each center’s online community (Naver Band).

Recently, a network meeting was held with all Seodaemun-gu Kiwoom Center staff participating to improve the professionalism and capabilities of care teachers.

The teachers shared operational cases and jointly demonstrated play programs to make the Kiwoom Centers more enjoyable and beneficial for children.

Seodaemun-gu was selected as a ‘2020 Kiwoom Center Parent Monitoring Pilot District’ among the 25 districts of Seoul and received an evaluation from Seoul City on the Bukgajwa 1-dong Uri Dongnae Kiwoom Center, confirming the stability of ‘user-centered operation.’

Especially, it received full marks on items related to infectious disease safety accident prevention and communication systems in preparation for COVID-19, recognizing that it faithfully fulfilled both care and quarantine safety roles.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, stated, “We plan to add three more Kiwoom Centers this year, focusing on areas with high care demand,” and added, “We will prioritize children’s rights and happiness by continuously developing public care programs that foster children’s autonomy and self-directedness.”

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