Youth-Proposed Policy 'From Seeds to Sharing' Growth Project Begins

Gyeonggi Province is operating the 'From Seeds to Sharing Growth Project' targeting youth with developmental disabilities, borderline intellectual disabilities, social isolation, hikikomori, and out-of-school youth.

The project is a policy proposed by youth and selected by the Gyeonggi Youth Participation Committee. It marks the first case of implementation through collaboration between youth and 10 organizations including Gyeonggi Food Square, Gyeonggi Dietary Life Education Support Center, and Gyeonggi Photography Center, without budget allocation.

A total of 113 youth with developmental disabilities, borderline intellectual disabilities, social isolation, hikikomori, and out-of-school status are participating in the project. Participants maintain garden plots, learn cooking with harvested produce, and document their activities through photographs, writing, and drawings. The project also includes sharing activities where harvested agricultural products are distributed to vulnerable populations in local communities.

The program operates in two formats tailored to the participants' needs. At Gyeonggi Food Square, garden experience and cooking and hygiene education are provided to 17 youth with borderline intellectual disabilities, social isolation, hikikomori, and out-of-school status. At Ja-Hye School in Suwon, programs utilizing the school's garden are operated for 96 youth with developmental disabilities.

A growth record featuring portraits and activity photographs of participating youth will be exhibited at △Gyeonggi Food Square (October 21 - November 1) △Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building 1st floor lobby (November 2-5) △Gyeonggi Photography Center (November 6-27).

Lee Seung-hee, head of the Youth Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, "It is highly significant that a policy directly proposed by youth has been realized as an actual project through collaboration among multiple organizations," and added, "I hope that through the entire process of planting, nurturing, and sharing seeds, young people will gain confidence and experience connection with their local community."