The program aims to build a foundation for youth with migrant backgrounds to grow as healthy members of society by deepening self-understanding through various career counselling and opportunities for self-exploration and expanding vocational knowledge.
Context / Problem identified
As of the first half of 2025, youth with migrant backgrounds account for 15.8% of Ansan City’s youth population in primary and secondary education and it is the highest level among urban areas nationwide. According to various studies, youth with migrant backgrounds face difficulty in career choices due to a lack of information and resources, and awareness of career barriers.
Career consultations and vocational experiences conducted uniformly in general schools fail to consider or reflect the unique challenges faced by youth with migrant backgrounds. Thus, it is necessary to provide career counselling program tailored to youth with migrant backgrounds.
Implementation process
The Career Counselling Program for Youth with Migrant Backgrounds is operated by the Ansan Global Youth Centre. The centre was established by Ansan City and is managed by a specialised private organisation under a consignment agreement. The budget is funded by Ansan City and private donor organisations. The program is available for youth with migrant backgrounds from 13 to 24, and applications can be submitted on-site.
The program consists of the Career Counselling Sessions, Vocational Experiences, Career Camps, and Career Forums.
1. Career Counselling Sessions
* Method
- Establish a specific career goal, direction and field by career counselling sessions tailored to individual characteristics.
- Monitor and review career goals for the youth with migrant backgrounds in need of counselling and strengthen motivation.
* Staff
- Career Counsellor
- Social Worker
2. Vocational Experiences: Career Experiences, College Major Experiences
* Method
- Conduct Vocational Experiences based on the results of a participant survey and preference survey.
- Implement vocational experiences in collaboration and cooperation with partner organizations.
* Staff
- Professional Coach
- Social Worker
3. Career Camps: Professional Lectures, Meeting with Senior Youths, Vocational Consultations, etc
* Method
- Provide mentoring sessions with experienced young people who have gone through similar challenges in career and academic pathways, and can share realistic experiences
- Career exploration workshops (Roundtable)
- Support young people to express their opinions through career forums and strengthen the capacity for independence
* Staff
- Professional Coach
- Social Worker
4. Career Forums: the current status of young people with migrant backgrounds in later adolescence, presentations on the theme, discussions
* Method:
- Explore ways to develop the program by sharing comprehensive understanding of the program
* Staff
- Career Counsellor
- Social Worker
Results achieved
As of 2024, the program has exceeded the target in all areas including the Career Counselling Sessions, Vocational Experiences, Career Camps, and Career Forums. All participants of Career Counselling Program achieved 100% attendance. A higher number of youths with migrant backgrounds than the prior expectation applied for and attended all the programs, the Vocational Experiences, Career Camps, and Career Forums. In addition, according to the results of pre- and post-survey, more than 70% of participants reported that the level of career maturity and understanding of their career fields of interest had improved.
This high achievement was driven by proactive outreach to potential participants, diverse career exploration opportunities through external partnerships, and active youth participation. In terms of vocational experiences, these consisted of experiencing the artificial intelligence technology in collaboration with EBS, one of the major broadcasters in South Korea, college major experiences in collaboration with Osan university, mentoring session with professionals in collaboration with the prominent NGO, World Vision. Such collaborations with external resources suitable for the demand of young people enabled cost reduction and diverse experiences for participants.
The Career Forum was designed as an opportunity for young people with migrant backgrounds to directly engage in discussions with experts and local institutions regarding the challenges in early migration and career searching stage, which empowers them as agents who can identify and pursue what they need, rather than being in a position of a beneficiary.
The participants were able to discover their talents and aptitudes, slowly find the career path that is suitable for themselves, broaden their understanding of vocations through various career experiences.
A key challenge through the implementation of this program is that the challenge in choosing a career is a consequence rather than the root problem that young people with migrant backgrounds face. The fundamental cause lies in the insufficiency of education, caring, and resources for young people with migrant backgrounds.
Ansan City recognises these environmental factors, and focuses on the Korean language training, bilingual education, support for psychological adaptation, etc, as well as this Career Counselling Program.
Through the comprehensive support system, the young people with migrant backgrounds can grow as healthy members of society in the local community by deepening self-understanding and strengthening capacity.
Cross-cutting aspects
As the program is multi-faceted, consisting of individual career counselling sessions, vocational experiences, career camps, etc., different identities or overlapping vulnerabilities can be reflected and embraced through the counselling process. The program is funded by Ansan City’s budget, ensuring high sustainability.
