- City of Paju provides more than 1,600 beneficiaries with a total subsidy of over KRW 2 billion -

On February 4, 2010, the City of Paju hosted the Didim Seed Sharing Ceremony for Group Mentoring for Hope at the Grand Conference Hall in City Hall. The ceremony was joined by Mayor Hwa-Sun Ryoo, City Council Chairman Chung-Ho Shin, students who will attend the mentoring program and leaders of related organizations.

The ceremony included the donation of “Bankbooks of Hope,” the awarding of the certificate for “Dream Learning Centers for Children” and the establishment of a “Group Mentorship for Hope” program. This program, which is the first of its kind in the country, is a systematic and practical program developed by the City that will enable children to realize their hopes and dreams through a partial subsidy by the City and the participation of civil officers, businesses and citizens. The program is just one aspect of the City’s efforts to provide children and young adults from low-income families with housing and living support, to help their learning, and to promote their health.

The program consists of three projects. First, the G&G Bank Account of Hope targets more than 1,600 children of the beneficiaries of basic livelihood support and the quasi-poor. Account holders are required to deposit KRW 10,000 per month, which is supplemented by a subsidy of KRW 50,000 that is contributed by civil officers, the City and businesses, in equal measure. This amount is deposited every month for three years.

These deposits will serve as the seed money for the futures of these underprivileged children, and will be used to support school tuition, educational costs and tuition at private institutes.

Second, religious organizations equipped with quality facilities and excellent HR will provide low-income children with after-school care and learning support through the “Dream Learning Center for Children” project. SunYou Church, Bongilcheon Church and Gwangtan Church will open in late February after an application and renovation process.

Third, 14 local centers for children and 3 living facilities for children will work with officers of the City Office to operate a Group Mentor Partnership Program. Together, the mentors and the participating organizations will help low-income children develop both mentally and physically and grow into healthy adults, through a broad range of support that includes exhibitions, lectures, concerts, physical check-ups, and vaccinations, as well as housing-related support such as the extermination of insects and renovations.

♠Managers from the City and 17 local centers for children exchange certificates of sisterhood building for successful group mentoring at the Didim Seed Sharing Ceremony for Group Mentoring for Hope on the afternoon of the 4th.♠

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mayor Hwa-Sun Ryoo said, “We need to consider welfare programs as investments for the future. I would like to provide a stepping stone for children from low-income classes with the nation’s first and best group mentoring for hope, and to help them grow into future talents by giving them inspiration and hope.”

○ Contact: Women & Family Team, Social Welfare Division, City of Paju ☎ 031) 940-8682