Pyeongtaek City will begin operating five new "Youth Resting Places Outside the Center" next month to support free community activities for young people. This is a new initiative by the Pyeongtaek City Youth Support Center, Youth Resting Place (hereinafter referred to as "Youth Resting Place"), to overcome the spatial limitations of the existing "Youth Resting Place" near Pyeongtaek Station and provide young people with opportunities to interact and grow in more diverse environments. The goal is not merely to secure and lease idle spaces and support program operating costs, but to build a model where young people, the local community, and space owners establish relationships and coexist.
The newly selected "Youth Resting Places Outside the Center" are distributed throughout Pyeongtaek City, improving accessibility for young people. The five selected locations are as follows:
Zero Waste Ildo C (123 Godeokgukje 3-gil): This space is suitable for young people who pursue eco-friendly values, and it is expected to facilitate active discussions and activities related to environmental protection and sustainable living. It is anticipated that unique programs such as workshops or lectures for zero-waste practices can be operated here.
Moirai Fair Trade Cafe (149 Janganut-gil): This space can contribute to sharing and spreading the values of fair trade. It will be a hub where young people interested in the social economy can gather to plan and execute meaningful activities. Fair trade study groups or programs to foster social entrepreneurship can be operated here.
Citizen's Space (381 Anhyun-ro, Anjung-eup): This space is expected to serve as a cultural and communication hub for young people in the Anjung area. Through linkage with local residents, it can promote intergenerational communication and encourage voluntary participation of young people in solving local problems. Various activities such as movie screenings, small performances, and local community events are possible.
U.AGE (1st Floor, 160 Godeokgukje 5-ro): Located within Godeok International New City, this space is expected to focus on supporting cultural, artistic, and creative activities for young people in the area. It provides an environment where free idea exchange and collaboration can take place in a modern atmosphere, and can be utilized for networking and project execution by young people in design, IT, and media fields.
Cafe Pada (37 Gopyeong 1-gil): This space will be used for young people to relax and interact in a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Informal gatherings such as study groups, book discussions, and small social activities are expected to thrive, contributing to the psychological stability and social cohesion of young people.
This "Youth Resting Place Outside the Center" project goes beyond simple space provision. Jeong Yeon-su, head of the Youth Resting Place Center, stated, "The Youth Resting Place Outside the Center is a project that goes beyond simple space support, allowing young people, the community, and space owners to build relationships and grow together," adding, "We hope this project provides an opportunity for young people to utilize diverse programs in various locations." This demonstrates the commitment to creating opportunities for young people to not just borrow space, but to understand the characteristics and values of each space, cooperate with space operators, and contribute to the local community.
Pyeongtaek City also supports operating costs for various programs to be held in these spaces, reflecting the demands of young people. This is to help young people realize creative ideas, deepen their areas of interest, and gain new experiences without financial burden. For example, the Zero Waste Ildo C could host environmental workshops or campaigns, the Moirai Fair Trade Cafe could offer fair trade product making experiences or lectures, the Citizen's Space could facilitate community-linked volunteer activities or cultural events, U.AGE could provide youth startup mentoring or IT education programs, and Cafe Pada could host youth psychological counseling programs or hobby club meetings.
Recently, Pyeongtaek City has seen a significant influx of young people, leading to a continuous increase in demand for youth activity spaces and programs. As part of Pyeongtaek City's efforts to create a "youth-friendly city," the existing Youth Support Center "Youth Resting Place" has supported young people in various fields such as employment, entrepreneurship, culture, and communication. However, spaces concentrated in specific areas made it difficult to ensure accessibility for all young people, and there were criticisms of a lack of spaces tailored to specific purposes. This "Youth Resting Place Outside the Center" is expected to overcome these limitations and improve the quality of life for young people by supporting various forms of activities within their living areas, while also contributing to local community revitalization.
Ultimately, the "Youth Resting Place Outside the Center" will serve as a hub where young people can proactively create their own culture and grow by interacting with the local community. This will be a crucial pillar of Pyeongtaek City's youth-led urban policy and is expected to have a positive impact on young people leading better lives and settling in Pyeongtaek. Pyeongtaek City plans to continue listening to the voices of young people and develop the project through continuous support and feedback for the successful operation of the "Youth Resting Place Outside the Center."
For more details, please contact the "Youth Resting Place."
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