Unused flowerpots donated by public institutions and residents will be cleaned and replanted by homeless workers, then delivered to vulnerable residents; a pot-collection event is set for July 9, with upcycled pots to be distributed through October.
Seoul's Seongdong-gu will hold a flowerpot collection event on July 9 to kick off its "Hope Hwasubun Project," an initiative that upcycles discarded pots to support homeless self-sufficiency and bring greenery to vulnerable residents.
The program collects unused flowerpots — primarily from public institutions, offices and homes — and has participants in homeless employment and self-reliance programs clean and replant them before distributing the finished pots to elderly people living alone, single-person households and welfare facility users across the district.
This year's collection event runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 9 in the parking lot beside the Seongdong-Gwangjin Office of Education. Participating organizations include all departments of the Seongdong-gu office, neighborhood community centers, public health centers, the Seongdong Police Station, the Seongdong Urban Management Corporation, the Seongdong-Gwangjin Office of Education and various social welfare facilities in the district.
Homeless employment program participants will wash, repair and replant pots donated at the event, giving each one a new life.
The district plans to deliver the completed upcycled pots to vulnerable residents in stages from August through October. Officials expect the initiative to promote resource circulation and environmental protection while also improving the emotional well-being and vitality of recipients.
Homeless participants will be involved in every stage — from collecting and refurbishing the pots to planting and delivering them — gaining horticultural skills and hands-on experience to help build a foundation for independent living.
Last year, the program upcycled donated pots and delivered a total of 627 to single-person households and social welfare facilities serving vulnerable residents.
"A small flowerpot that might otherwise be thrown away can become a source of comfort and hope for someone," a district official said. "This is a meaningful project that supports homeless self-reliance while also providing emotional stability for vulnerable residents, and we hope many institutions and community members will take an interest and get involved."
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