On November 12, the Korus Team hosted the Refugee Children Support Strategy Workshop, an interactive program aimed at fostering a multidimensional understanding of the structural challenges faced by refugee children and designing actionable support strategies. A total of 11 participants took part in the workshop, engaging directly in hands-on activities focused on problem analysis and policy-based solutions. Through this practice-oriented format, participants explored the real-world challenges surrounding refugee children and discussed viable response strategies in depth.

From the planning stage, the workshop was structured around three key phases: multidimensional understanding, reality-based policy design, and sharing and discussion. The program began with a bias-breaking icebreaker session in the form of an OX quiz, themed around “Myths and Facts about Refugee Children.” This session encouraged participants to examine their preconceived notions while reviewing factual information based on the actual conditions of refugee children in South Korea. Through this process, participants became more aware of societal perceptions and information gaps, establishing a shared foundation for problem recognition.

The workshop then moved into team-based activities featuring a card-based strategy design program focused on developing practical support policies. Based on the quiz results, participants selected problem cards representing key issues such as livelihood, psychological well-being, education, legal protection, and human rights. They were also required to consider constraint cards highlighting real-world limitations, including budget shortages, limited human resources, social prejudice, and political and legal restrictions. Within these conditions, teams designed their own support and policy cards. To enhance feasibility and specificity, the organizers provided sample reference cards containing existing refugee child support policies, NGO initiatives, and relevant legal provisions.

Each team visualized their strategy by organizing the flow of problem–constraint–support into a single story map and developed a slogan encapsulating the core message of their proposed policy. Teams then presented their story maps and policy proposals, followed by discussions focusing on the validity, feasibility, and potential social impact of each strategy. Participants critically reviewed the strengths and areas for improvement in each proposal, engaging in in-depth and constructive dialogue.

Participants also conducted a policy evaluation based on criteria such as realism, feasibility in terms of budget and human resources, and effectiveness in reducing social prejudice. This evaluation process was particularly meaningful in that it encouraged participants to move beyond idea generation and consider the practical conditions required for policy implementation and on-the-ground applicability.

Overall, the workshop received high satisfaction from participants. Lee Hyo-jeong, a student majoring in Child Psychology, shared, “This was my first opportunity to deeply understand the real difficulties and institutional constraints faced by refugee children. By concretely thinking through support measures, I was able to view the everyday realities of refugee children more realistically.” Another participant, Kim Ye-seo, also from the Department of Child Psychology, commented, “I developed a deeper empathy for the learning challenges refugee children face, and my hope for creating an environment where all refugee children can pursue their dreams has grown stronger.”

Through this workshop, the Korus Team created an important opportunity to highlight the necessity of refugee child support policies and explore realistic avenues for improvement. Moving forward, the Korus Team plans to continue implementing diverse programs that promote awareness of refugee issues and strengthen policy-oriented approaches.

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