**’Smile Community Participation Group’ Officially Launches Operations**
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ki-hoon = The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching the ‘Single-Person Household Community Activation Project’ to alleviate the loneliness of single-person households.
The city announced on the 9th that it had selected 27 comprehensive social welfare centers through a district competition in April to participate in the single-person household community activation project and that it will operate the ‘Smile Community Participation Group’ for single-person households starting this month.
The ‘Smile Community Participation Group’ will focus on three main activities: ▲ social participation activities ▲ network programs ▲ mutual wellness checks.
While last year’s goal was to identify socially isolated single-person households and activate community meetings, this year, more emphasis will be placed on forming networks based on individual interests through vigorous ‘social participation activities’ including sharing and local community contributions, and establishing a mutual care system, according to the city.
A city official stated, “Through talent-sharing, volunteering, and other social participation and community contribution activities run by various districts, we expect participants from single-person households to develop a positive self-perception and increase their self-efficacy.”
For example, Gangbuk District plans to conduct a ‘plogging’ volunteer activity where participants make pet snacks, then walk their pets while picking up trash.
Yangcheon District plans to open a bazaar where participants who completed a home fashion certification course will make household goods and donate the proceeds.
The city will also operate network programs that create various gatherings based on participants’ age groups, interests, and hobbies to help them form social connections.
Additionally, starting this year, they will commence wellness check activities.
The plan is to help community participants regularly exchange news both online and offline to alleviate feelings of isolation and establish a mutual care system where they check on each other’s well-being.
Detailed information on how to participate, the number of participants, and program contents can be obtained through the comprehensive social welfare centers or the Seoul single-person household website (1in.seoul.go.kr).
Song Mi-jeong, head of the Seoul Single-Person Household Support Division, said, “We will promote business projects that have a high sense of impact so that single-person households experiencing isolation can form networks with neighbors and actively participate in society.”