Seocho-gu Independent Youth Support Mentoring Begins

Seocho-gu’s ‘Always on My Side’ Mentoring Program Officially Begins on July 1

Mentors Selected as Outstanding Talents Including Doctors, Lawyers, Clinical Psychologists with Over 10 Years of Field Experience, Young Entrepreneurs to Ease Career Concerns of Youth Preparing for Independence, Architects, and University Students

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will officially launch the ‘Always on My Side’ mentoring program from July 1 to strengthen the psychological and emotional support for youth preparing for independence.

The ‘Always on My Side’ mentoring program is a new initiative started by the district this year with the purpose of providing youth preparing for independence?who are stepping out on their own from child care facilities and similar environments?with reliable adults they can depend on like family and always lean on.

The mentors were selected as outstanding talents, including professionals such as doctors and lawyers, clinical psychologists with over 10 years of field experience, young entrepreneurs who can ease the career concerns of youth preparing for independence, architects, and university students.

Accordingly, on the 27th, the district held a launch ceremony for the ‘Always on My Side Mentor Group,’ composed of 12 capable professionals including doctors and lawyers who will serve as mentors for youth preparing for independence.

Mentor Kim ㅇㅇ, who participated in the launch ceremony, expressed, “Through talent donation for youth preparing for independence, I want to spread positive influence and become a reliable adult who holds their hand when they feel lonely and struggling,” adding, “I look forward to listening to the mentees’ concerns, solving them together, and helping them grow healthily.”

This program is largely divided into ‘1:1 Mentoring’ and ‘Integrated Mentoring’ support. First, ‘1:1 Mentoring’ creates a strong support system like family through regular meetings between mentors and mentees to build a trusting relationship. ‘Integrated Mentoring’ supports mentees to receive integrated services by connecting them with other professional mentors for advice in various fields such as housing, legal matters, and finance.

The mentoring program requires at least one face-to-face activity per month, with flexible activities between mentors and mentees otherwise. To foster emotional bonds, the district plans to support various programs such as cultural performances and lectures in collaboration with the Seoul Arts Center. Additionally, in November, a ‘Networking Day’ will be held for mentors and mentees to promote friendship and provide a venue for information exchange.

On the 18th, the first ‘Networking Day’ was held with the participation of four youth preparing for independence. On that day, the youth gathered at a cooking studio located in Yangjae-dong and participated in a cooking class where they made fruit tanghulu and mille-feuille nabe, getting to know each other and building camaraderie.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “We will do our best to help youth preparing for independence stand on their own healthily by using the active encouragement and support of mentors as a stepping stone,” adding, “Going forward, with Seocho’s warm and differentiated support, we will be a strong shelter so that youth preparing for independence can grow into confident members of society.”

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