Samsung has initiated Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0, a program aimed at supporting the economic independence of young people through employment in education. Samsung held the launch event for the program at Samsung Electronics’ talent development institute known as The UniverSE in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. During the event, agreements were made with four organizations including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Community Chest of Korea and the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation to jointly operate the program.
Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0 is a program designed to support young individuals in building their technical and functional capabilities in order to achieve economic independence. Since 2013, Samsung has been supporting the youth by establishing Hope Stepping Stone Centers in 10 metropolitan areas nationwide through the Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 1.0 program. These centers provided housing and promote self-reliance education to young individuals preparing for independence. Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0 offers employment in education programs aimed at providing the necessary skills for economic independence. Eligibility for these programs has been designated for youth who have been released from protective institutions.
Based on surveys and interviews conducted with over 200 youth and center staff residing in the 10 Hope Stepping Stone Centers nationwide, Samsung identified that employment and career design education are the most essential elements in achieving economic independence for young people. Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0 leverages Samsung’s educational infrastructure and expertise in talent development to provide an optimal learning environment for youth. To ensure participants can fully focus on their education, Samsung Electronics’ The UniverSE in Yongin Gyeonggi Province and Samsung Heavy Industries’ Technical Training Institute in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province will provide individual accommodation and meals.
Samsung will offer training programs in various fields such as electronics/IT manufacturing, semiconductor precision piping technology, Korean cuisine chefs, IT service professionals and shipbuilding technicians. These courses, organized by different affiliates, will commence in the latter half of the year. Approximately 120 young individuals are expected to participate in these courses, which will last for 2 to 3 months each. In the coming year, four more educational programs will be introduced, including online advertising/practical PR, heavy equipment operation, dog grooming and nail art.
Samsung plans to conduct a “job camp” during the education process to provide guidance on writing job applications and interviews, ensuring that the vocational training directly correlates with youth employment prospects. “For the stable and sustainable self-reliance of young individuals, establishing a foundation for self-reliance through job experiences and employment is more crucial than anything else,” Labor Minister Lee Jung-sik said. “The Ministry of Employment and Labor is collaborating with businesses to provide job experience opportunities to around 20,000 young people this year, and we plan to expand it to approximately 48,000 individuals next year.”
The Korea Times
