Hanbit Youth Foundation

At Hanbit Youth Foundation, our mission is to seek out, stand beside, and walk with out-of-school and at-risk youth - young people who have fallen through the cracks of family, school, and society - and to help them build lives defined not by their hardships, but by their possibilities. For over 30 years, Hanbit Youth Foundation has been rooted in the communities of Seoul, reaching young people who are often invisible to the wider world: youth living in poverty, those experiencing abuse and neglect at home, young people who have dropped out of school, those caught in cycles of delinquency, and those who simply have no one in their corner. We believe that every young person - no matter their... read more At Hanbit Youth Foundation, our mission is to seek out, stand beside, and walk with out-of-school and at-risk youth - young people who have fallen through the cracks of family, school, and society - and to help them build lives defined not by their hardships, but by their possibilities. For over 30 years, Hanbit Youth Foundation has been rooted in the communities of Seoul, reaching young people who are often invisible to the wider world: youth living in poverty, those experiencing abuse and neglect at home, young people who have dropped out of school, those caught in cycles of delinquency, and those who simply have no one in their corner. We believe that every young person - no matter their background, past, or circumstances - carries within them the capacity for growth, for contribution, and for a meaningful life. Our work is to help them discover and realize that potential. We believe that no child chooses hardship, and no young person should be defined by it. We believe that early, sustained, and holistic support can interrupt cycles of poverty and marginalization. We believe in the dignity of every young person, and in their right to education, safety, belonging, and a future they can call their own. We are guided by the conviction that small acts of sharing and genuine service - offered consistently and with care - can become the foundation on which young people build their dreams. As we say, "A small practice of sharing becomes the dream and vision of our youth." Our approach is built around a five-stage model of care that meets youth where they are and walks with them as far as they need to go. 1. Outreach and Counseling We go to where young people are - on the streets, in parks, in difficult home environments - rather than waiting for them to come to us. Through our street counseling centers, our Eureka mobile counseling camper van, and home-visit counseling services, we actively identify youth in crisis and begin building the trust that makes change possible. 2. Education We believe that access to learning is non-negotiable, regardless of a young person's circumstances. Through our alternative schools - including Sarang School, Seum School, and the Kkumdream Youth Support Center - we provide meaningful, individualized education to youth who have left or been excluded from the formal school system. Over three decades, we have guided approximately 2,000 young people back into learning and forward into life. 3. Protection For youth who cannot safely return home, we provide more than counseling - we provide a home. Our group home, Hanbit Village, offers stable, supportive living environments where young people experience safety, routine, and care, often for the first time. We believe that a young person cannot grow without a safe place to stand. 4. Independence True support does not end with shelter or schooling. We walk with young people all the way to self-reliance, connecting them with vocational training, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship programs. From digital job creation partnerships with KOTRA, to interior architecture training, to a thriving Vietnamese restaurant venture launched and run by youth themselves, we help young people find not just employment, but purpose. 5. Giving Back The final and most powerful step in our model is the transformation from someone who receives help to someone who gives it. Many of the young people we have supported have grown into mentors, employers, and community leaders who now open doors for the next generation. This sustainable, pay-it-forward cycle is at the heart of everything we do. As we look ahead, Hanbit Youth Foundation is committed to expanding this model of care - both deepening our roots in local communities and extending our reach internationally. Through partnerships in the Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Laos, we are sharing what we have learned with communities facing similar challenges, and building bridges that allow young people across borders to support one another. At our core, we remain what we have always been: a community that believes in young people, that refuses to give up on them, and that is willing to do the long, quiet, unglamorous work of walking with them - one young person at a time - toward a life they can be proud of.