Michuhol-gu District in Incheon (Mayor Kim Jeong-sik) is running related programs through two local institutions with the goal of realizing gender equality and spreading a culture of work-family balance. In March, following deliberation by the Gender Equality Committee, the district selected the Korea Forest Ecological Play Culture Association and the Michuhol-gu Family Center as operating institutions for its gender equality fund projects.
 [The Korean Today] Michuhol-gu Family Center’s Play Together program © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The gender equality fund project supports nonprofit corporations and organizations that run programs allowing residents to experience the value of gender equality in their daily lives. Through this initiative, the district is jointly supporting two goals: helping women with career gaps re-enter society and expanding fathers’ participation in child-rearing.
The Korea Forest Ecological Play Culture Association is running the ‘I Am a Global Play Instructor’ program, which trains play education experts among women with career gaps and others. The program consists of education on traditional games from around the world and multicultural understanding, and aims to boost participants’ economic and social capabilities while laying the groundwork for them to work as professional instructors.
The Michuhol-gu Family Center is running ‘Happy Together,’ aimed at spreading a culture of shared parenting, and ‘Play Together,’ a fathers’ cooperative program that supports fathers’ participation in child-rearing. Both programs focus on preventing caregiving within the household from being skewed toward one parent.
 [The Korean Today] Korea Forest Ecological Play Culture Association’s I Am a Global Play Instructor program © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The first round of ‘Play Together,’ held in the first half of the year, featured physical play, indoor camping, and craft experiences. According to the district, it was a time for fathers and children to bond and communicate through hands-on activities together.
The second round of ‘Play Together’ in the second half of the year will feature a variety of programs, including a flight attendant experience and a forest experience. Families wishing to participate can apply from July 13 to 20 through the Michuhol-gu Communal Child-Rearing Sharing Space Naver Cafe.
Officials involved in the project said, “We will continue to run a variety of programs so that residents can experience the value of gender equality in the areas of social participation and caregiving.” A district official also said, “We hope this project will help spread a culture in which residents practice gender equality and consideration for one another in their daily lives,” adding, “We will actively support related projects so that a culture of gender equality can take root in the community.”
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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