Beautiful Companion Travel Program in Yongin Returns After 2 Years with Enhanced Activities

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The 'Beautiful Companion Travel Program in Yongin,' which offers sightseeing, volunteer service, and career experience, has made a comeback after two years with an even more enriched program.

The Beautiful Companion Travel Program in Yongin, which has been operated by Yongin City since 2017, is a program that allows middle and high school students in the city to travel throughout Yongin while engaging in volunteer work and career experiences.

The program has received strong support, with an average of approximately 1,300 youth participants annually.

Operations were temporarily suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.

The program, which resumes after two years, will run from next month through November across three categories with a total of 40 sessions: 'Compassion and Companionship' featuring volunteer work, 'Dreams and Future Companionship' offering career experiences, and 'Clean Together Companionship' combining environmental cleanup activities.

First, Compassion and Companionship includes visits to Jangchon Village, Ivyland, and Hantaek Botanical Garden, where participants can experience rural life and assist with farm work through volunteer service.

Participants also have the opportunity to use wheelchairs firsthand to develop empathy toward people with disabilities who face mobility challenges.

Dreams and Future Companionship allows participants to explore the Yongin Insect Theme Park and Hantaek Botanical Garden, and meet with plant managers and insect breeders who work on-site to learn about related professions.

Finally, Clean Together Companionship is a plogging program combining environmental cleanup activities, newly added this year.

Participants will walk through traditional markets, Seokpo Forest Park, and Yongdam Lake with cultural interpreters, listening to hidden stories while also engaging in environmental cleanup activities.

Participation is free of charge, and recruitment is conducted in two phases: first (group applications) and second (individual and group applications).

The first phase recruits 8 teams (320 participants) on a first-come, first-served basis by the 3rd of next month through the 1365 Volunteer Portal website and Dream Path website.

The second phase recruitment proceeds on an ongoing basis after the first phase closes, and individuals and groups can apply through the 1365 Volunteer Portal website and Dream Path website.

A city official stated, "Approximately 4,000 youth have participated in the Beautiful Companion Travel Program in Yongin, which provides diverse experiences for young people," and added, "As the program returns this year with even more enriched content, we hope for continued interest and participation."