Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope
Supporting youth to stand on their own
Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope helps youth leaving care get ready to lead independent lives in a stable environment by providing a single room per person. It also provides job training and employment support to help the youth stand on their own feet.
A tower of strength for adolescents
Adolescents living in children’s care facilities or foster homes are obliged to leave child protective services upon turning 18, regardless of their will. To lessen the financial/residential/career-related burden of the youth, Samsung provides support and stand alongside them. Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope Center provides a single room per person to care-leaving youth for up to two years. The center offers training necessary for everyday life including cooking, cleaning, and organizing. Moreover, youth can take basic economic education like financial knowledge, asset management, and lease contract.
Started with Samsung employees’ donation
Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope is Samsung’s CSR activity started in 2013. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Samsung’s New Management Initiative, Samsung Electronics employees came up with the idea and donated to start the program. Marking the 20th anniversary of Samsung Electronics’ New Management Initiative in 2013, employees were given special incentives from which they voluntarily chose to donate 10%. To find the most meaningful cause to give KRW 25 billion, employees collected ideas for corporate citizenship programs and put it to a vote. Over 23,000 employees voted, and one of the ideas was a self-reliance support program for care-leaving youth—which developed into Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope. Starting from Stepping Stone of Hope Busan Center in 2015, Samsung is operating 15 Stepping Stone of Hope Centers in 12 localities (Busan, Daegu, Gangwon, Gwangju, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeonggi, Jeonnam, Daejeon, Chungbuk), supporting the independent life of 38,000 youth leaving care facilities.
One step together with one mind
For the economic independence of youth, Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope goes one step further. By leveraging not only Samsung’s education infrastructure and know-how but also the network with Samsung affiliates and partners, Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope provides practical skill education to help care-leaving youth get employed. With Samsung affiliates, the program operates 9 educational courses including electronics/IT manufacturing technician, semiconductor precision piping engineer, confectionery/baking technician, and nail art beautician. Samsung Stepping Stone of Hope covers all expenses of the education fee and provides accommodation as well as educational allowances so that youth can focus solely on their education.
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