Participants who complete three of five eco-friendly tasks by Dec. 13 earn one hour of volunteer credit — active volunteers up 29.5% and new registrants up 38.6% year-on-year as participation grows.
Jungnang-gu is running an eco-friendly volunteer challenge — "Light Practices That Change the Earth" — through Dec. 13, open to all residents as part of their daily routines.
The challenge was designed to encourage residents to see environmental protection as something achievable through small, everyday actions, and to link those actions to formal volunteer activity.
Participants first watch an educational video on eco-friendly practices, then choose and complete three of five designated tasks.
The five tasks are: purchasing eco-certified products, using a reusable shopping bag, eating one plant-based meal, finishing all food with no leftovers, and using reusable containers.
After completing the tasks, participants take a timestamped photo and submit it along with a survey through Naver Forms. Submissions must be made promptly after the activity, with a final deadline of Dec. 27. One hour of volunteer credit is awarded once the submitted activity is verified.
All activities are designed to be carried out in everyday life without requiring on-site attendance, and the online verification system allows participants to take part regardless of time or location.
The district runs a range of support programs to promote volunteerism and recognize its volunteers. It currently issues volunteer excellence certificates to 1,315 outstanding volunteers, who receive a set of benefits: a 50 percent discount on program fees at community centers in each neighborhood, a 30 percent discount at Mangwoo Cafe, Onggi Culture Garden and Jungnang Rose Cafe, a 30 percent discount on public parking fees, a 30 percent discount on lifelong learning center program fees, and a 20 percent discount on district-run sports facility fees.
Alongside this, the district presents excellence medals and plaques to top volunteers based on their service records and holds commendation ceremonies to honor outstanding contributors.
On Wednesday, the district presented commendations to "Saemjigi" volunteers who manage the Jungnang Ongdalsaem community refrigerator and guide users on proper waste sorting, recognizing their efforts to prevent heat-related harm and maintain a clean environment.
Volunteer participation has been rising steadily as a result. As of August, 10,075 active volunteers had taken part — up 29.5 percent from the same period last year — while 3,082 new volunteers had registered, a 38.6 percent increase. The district plans to expand opportunities for residents to volunteer across a wider range of fields.
"Protecting the environment starts not with grand gestures but with the small changes each of us can make every day," Jungnang-gu District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi said. "I hope this challenge helps residents naturally embrace eco-friendly practices as a form of volunteering and carry them forward as a lasting part of their daily lives."
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