Empowering Youth Through the 'From Seed to Sharing' Growth Project

• List
• More options
  • Edit
  • Delete

• Facebook
• Twitter

The Gyeonggi Province is officially launching the 'From Seed to Sharing' growth project, targeting 113 youths with developmental disabilities, borderline intellectual functioning, social isolation, or those outside the school system. This initiative originated from a heartfelt policy proposal by a young individual, aiming to empower peers who often find themselves in welfare blind spots to gain confidence in independence by learning to prepare and share food.

Selected as an exemplary policy by the Gyeonggi Youth Participation Committee, this project holds special significance as it represents the first collaborative model among ten relevant organizations, including Gyeonggi Food Plaza and Gyeonggi Food Education Support Center, without any separate budget allocation.

The growth project includes hands-on experiences such as gardening, cooking classes, and community exhibitions, designed to help youths with borderline intellectual functioning and developmental disabilities feel a sense of achievement and self-sufficiency. Tailored to the characteristics of the participants, the program encompasses 'hands-on gardening,' 'cooking classes,' 'practicing sharing,' and 'creating growth records.' In Gyeonggi Food Plaza, 17 youths will undergo gardening and nutrition education, while 96 youths at Suwon Jahye School will engage in specialized activities using the school garden to learn about seasonal changes.

This project particularly focuses on youths with borderline intellectual functioning, who often fall into welfare blind spots due to their IQ range of 71-84, which does not meet legal disability criteria. It aims to equip these individuals with practical life skills and create a foundation for healthy social interactions. The initiative is designed to empower youths to lead the entire process from planting seeds to harvesting, cooking, and sharing.

Participants will gradually develop their life skills by learning to cook with fresh produce harvested from their gardens. They will also experience the joy of giving back to the community by sharing their prepared meals, transitioning from being recipients of help to becoming active contributors. The 'growth records,' filled with photos and writings from their experiences, will be exhibited at Gyeonggi Food Plaza from October 21 to November 1, followed by displays at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office lobby and Gyeonggi Photo Center.

Lee Seung-hee, head of the Gyeonggi Youth Department, emphasized the significance of a youth-led policy evolving into a collaborative project among various organizations, expressing hope that through nurturing seeds and sharing, the youths will gain confidence and connect healthily with the community. For those who have endured isolation at the margins of the system, this small experience of achievement can serve as a strong foundation for their journey into society.

As small seeds grow into fruitful plants that bring warmth and sharing, this project is expected to cultivate deep-rooted courage for independence in each participating youth, helping them become proud members of our society.

Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224398657594

Like0 Dislike0