RELATIONSHIPS & RESOURCES …
HOPE and HELP for South Korean Welfare Home Students
LifeTogether’s Vision
Children who have been orphaned or abandoned and placed in South Korean welfare homes are entitled to the consistent love, respect, and support of at least one caring individual, with the same opportunities given to children in nuclear families.
The Situation
280
South Korean government-recognized welfare homes*
(*See below for further explanation of this term.)
15,000
children living in government-supported welfare homes+
(+See below for further explanation.)
18
years old when a student must leave the welfare home and begin to live independently
200-600
students who must “graduate” and leave the shelter of the welfare homes every year
5,000,000
Korean won (= approx. $4,200) given as a one-time grant by the government to students to begin their independent living
The Need
1
caring, responsible adult for each student to be a friend, mentor, and supporter
Without the support and guidance of at least ONE caring, responsible adult, many of these young people will end up in unsafe or unhealthy situations, unseen and unnoticed and often shunned by many around them.
LifeTogether’s Response
LifeTogether maintains active programs in 3 Seoul-area welfare homes with long-term relationships and mentoring at the core of all support.
Programs & Activities
English Classes
U.S. Homestay
Activities
“Every KID is ONE caring ADULT away from being a SUCCESS story.”
Josh Shipp
*Note: Vulnerable children are placed in South Korean welfare homes for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, being an orphan. Abandonment, unstable family situations, health issues, etc. may be the reason for placement. Therefore, the term “welfare home” is used instead of “orphanage.” Regardless of the reason for being placed in a welfare home, all of these children are vulnerable and at-risk and must deal with the stigma and trauma of living in a welfare home.
+In addition to government-funded welfare homes, there are private homes, foster homes, and group homes which care for orphans and vulnerable children. The exact number of children in these homes is not available, but estimates say that it could be as many as the number of children who live in government-funded homes.
