By Hochan SEON | Director
Thanks to all those who have donated and supported ‘Study Trip to Build LGBTQ Youth Shelter in Korea.’
A crisis support center that LGBTQ youths can use was first established in South Korea in 2015. Thanks to our supporters, we have been running without support from the government, but since the center runs only by 12 hours a day and 5 days a week, we could not help with the LGBTQ youths who had wanted to use the center at night. That’s why DDing Dong started ‘Home, PRIDE HOME’ project that makes an alternative housing place where they can stay safe at night. ‘Home, PRIDE HOME’ is a project that establishes LGBTQ youth shelter for the first time in South Korea and gives knowledge and information to make nationwide organizations and shelters for youths friendlier to LGBTQs. Before running the shelter, we planned to collect the cases of LGBTQ youth shelters and learn their know-how by visiting the LGBTQ and housing support organizations in LA.
We visited various housing support organizations (ProjectQ, APAIT, TLC, LA LGBT Center, etc. Total of 100), had meetings with the activists and were able to learn a lot and make networks. In addition, we met with people interested in DDing Dong's activities. About 50 people attended and supported our gathering party, endorsing DDing Dong and LGBTQ Youth in South Korea. And they also donated for our activities.
You can see the stories of the visits on DDing Dong’s blog. Please look forward to postings regarding spaces, ways to support, examples and know-how! We were able to know various cases and know-how through the visit to the organizations and plan to utilize the gathered information to establish and run the alternative housing space. Also, releasable information will be posted on DDing Dong’s blog (Korean only).
We are still discussing on timeline for opening and how to set up operation system for the shelter as funding will be solely based on sponsorship without government support. Although the exact opening date has not yet been set, we plan to start with partial night support and expand the scope of activities by providing a safe space for LGBTQ youth at late hours. We will continue striving to be a place where LGBTQ youth feel free to come by when they need help 24 hours a day 365 days.
We appreciate everyone who helped us on this LA visit project. Thanks to you, we were able to visit various organizations in LA, and felt a sense of great strengh and support. Please stay tuned on DDing Dong’s GlobalGiving page for future activities and news. Thank you very much.
DDing Dong Executive Staff
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