Andong City’s 2025 Children & Family Initiatives: A Summary of โคSuccesses
Andong City has made significant strides in 2025 towards becoming a truly child-pleasant city, with initiatives โคdemonstrably impacting citizens’ lives. Here’s a breakdown of their key projects and achievements:
1. Accessible & Improved Childcare Infrastructure:
* Free Access Maintained: Continued โthe first-in-Gyeongsangbuk-do policy of waiving fees โขfor the childcare support center and toy library, resulting in high usage: 18,336 users of the center andโ 11,579 users of the toy library.
* Facility โUpgrades: Remodeled both โขthe childcare support center and โtoyโ library in November to createโค safer and more comfortableโ environments for infants โand toddlers.
* Expanded โคInfant Care: Opened a new joint childcare sharing center specifically for 0-year-olds at Yeongmu Yedaum Apartment (opening December) and a new Community Care Center in the same complex, concentrating care resources.
2. โขStrengthening Family Bonds & Co-Parenting:
* Popular Camping Program: the “Andong Outside the Tent,Enjoy Co-parenting Through Camping” program was a hit,with 180 participants (45 families) enjoying bonding experiences like recreation,performances,and concerts. Notably, the program actively included multicultural families and families with children with disabilities.
* Extended Care Options: “K Bodeum 6000” (expanded night & weekend care) โcontinued stable operation.
3.Becoming a โฃUNICEF child-Friendly City:
* Formal partnership: Signed a business agreement with UNICEF in 2025.
* Planning & Input: Conducted surveys (standard & citizen opinion) to develop a child-friendly city promotion plan.
* Child Participation: Launched the โfirst “Child Participation Committee” to directly involve โฃchildren in policy-making.
* Certification โฃgoal: Aiming for UNICEF certification by the second half of 2026, which will unlock training, advice, and collaborative opportunities with other child-friendly โcities.
4.โ Engaging Experiences for Children & Families:
* Seasonal Programs: โ The “Child Happiness Four Seasons Imaginaryโค Play Program” and โขChildren’s โขWeek events offered โdiverse, season-specific activities.
* โฃ High Participation: 24,260 people participated in these programs, including:
* Amsan Ice Festival (customary games): โ14,500
โ * Nature-friendly playground programs: 360
* Children’s musicals &โ summer โperformances: 1,400
* Children’s Week events: 8,000
5. Supporting Childcare Needs & Vulnerable Families:
* Gap Resolution: โขStrengthened policies to โคaddress childcare gaps for dual-income and single-parent families.
* Specific Services:
โ * Sick Child Hospitalโฃ Accompanying Service: 159 users
* Care services linked to senior citizen centers: 4 โขlocations
* All Togetherโ Care Centers: Expanded to 7 locations
* Increased Caregiverโค Capacity: Expanded the number of caregivers to 194, supporting 620 children.
* Multicultural Family Support: Provided customized support to 135 individuals throughโ home visits, childbirth support, mentoring,โค and therapy.
6.โข Ensuring Child safety & Protection:
* Inter-Agency Collaboration: Operated the Case Decisionโ Committee and Facts Link Council 15 timesโ to improve โcooperation.
*โฃ Awareness Campaigns: Held 12 child abuse prevention campaigns.
*โ Protective Measures: Systematically managed 140 children requiring protection.
Andong City’s 2025 initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to creating aโ supportive and nurturing environment for children and families, with tangible results and a clear vision for theโ future.
Mayor Kwon โKi-chang’s statement underscoresโข the city’s dedicationโฃ to understanding and addressing the needs of parents.
