Five-month placements at village enterprises, cooperatives; monthly stipend of 2.34 million won ($1,520), completion certificates issued
The government is launching a program to help young people build careers while injecting new energy into local communities.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that it will begin recruiting participating organizations and youth applicants for the "Social Solidarity Economy Youth Work Experience Program" on a regional basis starting later this month.
The program is designed to give unemployed young people the opportunity to work for five months at village enterprises or cooperatives.
Eligibility extends up to age 39 depending on the region. Participants receive a monthly stipend of 2.34 million won ($1,520), along with job training, mentoring from working professionals, and counseling on workplace issues and career development. Upon completing the program, participants receive a certificate of completion and an employment history verification document that formally recognizes their experience when applying for jobs.
Participants choose between two tracks: an "employment type," in which they carry out activities the organization already conducts, and a "job creation type," in which teams of two to four people develop new roles.
Those interested should check recruitment notices posted by their local government — based on their registered address — and then apply through the "Government-Supported Jobs Recruitment Center" on the Goyong24 website.
Lee Bang-mu, director general of the ministry's Social Solidarity Economy Bureau, said the program would offer young people "a great opportunity to build meaningful careers in social solidarity economy organizations across diverse fields, including care services, culture and tourism, energy, and local product development." He added that he hoped the program would help youth find new career paths while revitalizing local communities.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
