The Importance of Safe Spaces for Youth
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
Asking teenagers where they want to go is different from asking where they can comfortably stay.
While there are many places they want to visit, there aren't as many where they can truly relax.
In school, they are busy attending classes, and in after-school academies, they prepare for upcoming exams. This is the daily routine of teenagers.
To sit in a café, one must order something. It makes you wonder how many places exist where they can meet friends or spend time alone without a specific purpose.
As I headed to the Dangjin Youth Culture Center, I pondered similar questions.
For a space dedicated to youth, isn't it just as important to consider how they relax, whom they meet, and how they spend their time, as it is to focus on what they learn?
The notices and recruitment posters at the entrance show that various activities are ongoing here.
Upon entering, I found that the cafeteria and activity spaces were seamlessly connected. For teenagers who visit frequently, this must be a familiar sight.
There were rules posted on the wall. According to the guidelines, pool tables are available for use starting from the fifth grade, and the usage time is limited to one hour.
It also advised checking for passersby and being cautious not to let the balls fall on the floor, as well as not leaving cues just anywhere.
The center's announcements included Saturday experiential activities called 'Eol. To. Dang. To' and vacation programs like 'Byeol. Da. Bang', as well as youth gatherings and cultural festivals.
Digital education programs such as science, coding, drones, environmental experiences, Photoshop, and video editing are also part of their offerings.
Details and participation schedules vary by program, so it's advisable to check announcements beforehand.
The value of such activities lies not only in what is accomplished.
Even if a single experience doesn’t determine a career path, it can reveal what processes they find interesting.
Operating a drone might be fun, while connecting scenes in a video could be more appealing.
Before urging youth to find their dreams, we need to reflect on whether we provide ample opportunities for them to explore.
When someone says they still don’t know what they like, it may simply indicate that they need more opportunities to experience.
One particularly meaningful aspect of the Dangjin Youth Culture Center was the Youth Operation Committee, 'Dreamari'.
This participatory body examines the facilities and programs, surveys the needs of the youth using them, and offers feedback on operations.
The term 'space for youth' can easily be understood as something prepared by adults for teenagers.
However, the significance deepens when the opinions of those who frequently use the space are reflected.
One of the first places that caught my eye upon entering was the pool table area.
The pool table in the hallway intuitively shows what kind of place the Youth Culture Center is.
It doesn't feel like a place where one must come solely to study or stay only for scheduled classes.
While play is free, shared spaces require agreements.
Waiting for one's turn and tidying up after use are part of that agreement.
In these small rules, there is a way to share space with others.
The area filled with board games also caught my attention. Various types of games were neatly arranged on the shelves.
Unlike the time spent staring at smartphone screens, board games encourage players to observe each other's faces and reactions.
Explaining rules, contemplating the next move, and laughing at unexpected outcomes can naturally spark conversations.
Telling teenagers to make friends is easy.
However, providing the time and space for relationships to develop is another matter.
A small shared activity can serve as a catalyst for conversation.
The pool table and board game shelf seemed like places for such meetings.
Further inside, there is a reading space called 'Book Resonance'.
The shelves are filled with a variety of books, and there are places to sit and read near the windows and tables.
The phrase 'Creating a Reading Habit with Samsung Display' is also visible.
Reading for youth is often assigned as a task.
They frequently have to read specific books and summarize the content or explain what they learned afterward.
While such experiences are necessary, the time spent reading without showing results to anyone is equally valuable.
It's okay to open a book that catches your eye, read a little, and then close it, or linger over a sentence you stumbled upon.
Looking at the tables and chairs in the Book Resonance area, I felt that this space allows readers to set their own pace.
Even when someone is present, the ability to spend quiet time alone is the charm of a reading space.
In front of the stairs, I noticed the recruitment notice for the Dangjin Youth After School Academy.
According to Dangjin's 2026 announcement, the academy supports middle school students with learning, experiential activities, health management, and weekend experiences.
It emphasizes the provision of meals and transportation home, along with highlighting the participation of youth in proposing programs, self-governance meetings, and club activities.
The official facility guide for the Dangjin Youth Culture Center introduces dance practice rooms, singing practice rooms, computer spaces, PlayStation and Xbox, table tennis tables, and an outdoor futsal field.
In essence, it prepares various activity spaces so that youth with different interests can spend their time in their own ways.
After-school time varies for each teenager. Some may receive care at home, while others may have to spend long hours alone.
Support that looks after not just learning and activities but also meals and transportation home helps ensure that a teenager's day unfolds steadily.
For a teenager who loves to dance, a space to move their body is necessary, and for one who enjoys singing, a place to express their voice is essential.
The process of discovering one's interests cannot be achieved merely through explanations.
It involves trying things out, retrying if they don’t work, and gradually solidifying ideas by observing the reactions of those around them.
On the second floor, there are spaces for the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center and the Out-of-School Youth Support Center, 'Dream'.
It was impressive to see a path leading from a place for cultural activities to counseling and support.
Just knowing where to go in moments of need can be an important starting point for someone.
As I explored the Dangjin Youth Culture Center, I reflected on the meaning of the time allowed for youth.
While learning and preparation time are valued, the time spent resting, playing, and getting to know oneself is often pushed to the back.
However, I believe that the time spent laughing together, practicing what they enjoy, and quietly reading a book is also a part of growth.
The Youth Culture Center has facilities for pool tables, bookshelves, practice rooms, and classrooms for different activities.
What connects them is how the youth spend their day.
Some will come to play with friends, while others will enter to read or participate in programs.
As they repeatedly spend time there, the space becomes more than just a building.
Having a place that accepts them between school and home signifies that even if they don’t yet know what they excel at, it means they can try various things.
The significance of the Youth Culture Center lies in the fact that such experiences are close to their daily lives.
Thinking about the spaces needed for youth ultimately asks what kind of time we can provide in their day.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224441391066
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