코리아타임즈, 이규리 기자
Korea's aging population has emerged as one of the major social issues of the country, and one that grows more concerning with every year because of the plummeting birth rate. The population aged over 65 is projected to hit 46.4 percent in 2070 from last year's 17.5 percent.
With this growing age imbalance, a generation gap has become inevitable, increasingly widening the barriers between the younger and older generations.
And this was the mission that Sim Hyun-bo, the 32-year-old founder and CEO of social enterprise Arip&Werip, took on when he started his company that offers jobs to underprivileged elderly people.
"When I first developed this business, I thought to myself that it would be great if there can be better communication between the generations. There are various reasons (for lack of communication). When we think of the elderly, we often envision self-centered seniors on the subway, but they are not usually like that in real life," the CEO told The Korea Times, during a recent interview.
"And for elders, it's not easy to have chances to interact with younger people because of the gap between the generations. So although no one has spoken or tried to stir conflict, the misunderstandings just simply accumulate, raising further barriers between generations."
Found in 2017, Arip&Werip brings together elderly people who make a living off of collecting cardboard and recyclable waste to make hand-drawn artworks, from handicrafts and decorative stickers, and sell them on its platform, New Year Market. The imperfect drawings and squiggle handwriting of quotes offering a piece of elderly advice ironically hit the right note with trendy Millennials and Gen Z consumers.
It currently works with 17 elderly employees, seven of which are responsible for designing and drawing art to put on products, and the rest who work part-time wrapping the products. Along with the platform, the social venture takes in donations and sponsorships from other corporations to deliver supplies and goods to the elderly through local social welfare foundations.
(중략)
기사 원본 : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2023/08/135_357251.html
코리아타임즈, 이규리 기자
Korea's aging population has emerged as one of the major social issues of the country, and one that grows more concerning with every year because of the plummeting birth rate. The population aged over 65 is projected to hit 46.4 percent in 2070 from last year's 17.5 percent.
With this growing age imbalance, a generation gap has become inevitable, increasingly widening the barriers between the younger and older generations.
And this was the mission that Sim Hyun-bo, the 32-year-old founder and CEO of social enterprise Arip&Werip, took on when he started his company that offers jobs to underprivileged elderly people.
"When I first developed this business, I thought to myself that it would be great if there can be better communication between the generations. There are various reasons (for lack of communication). When we think of the elderly, we often envision self-centered seniors on the subway, but they are not usually like that in real life," the CEO told The Korea Times, during a recent interview.
"And for elders, it's not easy to have chances to interact with younger people because of the gap between the generations. So although no one has spoken or tried to stir conflict, the misunderstandings just simply accumulate, raising further barriers between generations."
Found in 2017, Arip&Werip brings together elderly people who make a living off of collecting cardboard and recyclable waste to make hand-drawn artworks, from handicrafts and decorative stickers, and sell them on its platform, New Year Market. The imperfect drawings and squiggle handwriting of quotes offering a piece of elderly advice ironically hit the right note with trendy Millennials and Gen Z consumers.
It currently works with 17 elderly employees, seven of which are responsible for designing and drawing art to put on products, and the rest who work part-time wrapping the products. Along with the platform, the social venture takes in donations and sponsorships from other corporations to deliver supplies and goods to the elderly through local social welfare foundations.
(중략)
기사 원본 : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2023/08/135_357251.html