Suwon City Holds Policy Forum on Child-Friendly City Initiative
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City held a child-friendly city policy forum for 100 minutes starting at 10 a.m. on the 9th under the theme of "Post-Corona, Protecting Children's Health."
The forum proceeded in a town hall meeting format where any citizen could participate and voice their opinions.
Local and academic experts on child-related issues conducted an on-site discussion, while elementary, middle, and high school representatives and parents invited through recruitment participated via video conference, and approximately 90 members of the child monitoring group and general citizens participated in the online discussion streamed through YouTube.
The first keynote presentation was delivered by Lee Young-an, a researcher at the Suwon City Policy Research Institute, who presented "Results of Suwon City Child-Friendliness Survey," introducing the current state of children in Suwon City.
Through trends in the child-friendliness survey conducted every two years, characteristics of Suwon City children were identified, and participants discussed problems and solutions.
The keynote address was given by Kim Dong-shim, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology at Hanshin University, with the title "Healthy and Happy in the Untact Era," raising the agenda for creating a sound and healthy environment for children.
Using various research materials, the presentation introduced changes in children's lifestyles following COVID-19 and suggested ways for children to adapt to the changed environment and lead healthy lives at home.
In the open discussion, Professor Kim Hyung-mo of the Department of Social Welfare at Kyonggi University served as moderator, with Guk Seung-hwa, scholarship officer at Suwon Office of Education, Kim Do-hyun, director of the Child Care Division of Suwon City, and student and parent representatives presenting their opinions. Additionally, a session was provided through Suwon City Hall's YouTube channel where citizens' questions were answered and opinions were shared.
In relation to this, on the Suwon City website's "Citizens' Forum," opinions were actively expressed regarding measures to address vulnerable populations whose learning gap has widened due to prolonged COVID-19, the creation of opportunities for experiential learning with active child participation, and the need for parks and play facilities where children of different age groups, such as elementary school students and teenagers, can enjoy activities.
Participants concluded the forum by taking photos while making sign language gestures meaning "promise" to express their determination to prevent child abuse and participate in reporting when abuse is discovered, as part of a child abuse prevention campaign.
A city official said, "We will make efforts to reflect various citizens' opinions presented at the forum to develop measures that can help families with children experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19."