Gained practical experience serving as a company representative, Gap Year Project Dispatched to World-Changing Social Enterprises, Jeju

#Gained practical experience in the role of a company representative #Internship experience at a social enterprise; practical, hands-on knowledge #Disappointment with the low awareness of social enterprises

Author: Kim Hak-woo
Country / City: Asia/South Korea/Seoul
Views : 6207

8That time was too short to properly learn everything and to experience many things..However, being able to work as an intern at a social enterprise — not a regular company — in Jeju, which is famous as a tourist destination, was a special experience..The most memorable experience was that, at a young age, I represented a company, reached out to another company, and sent an official proposal..

- Gap Year Project: Dispatch to World-changing Social Enterprises / Jeju

The social enterprise in Jeju is a company that provides bicycle rental services to travelers..However, what sets this social enterprise apart from other rental companies in Jeju is that it provides social value,The social values the company pursues are‘Environment’ ‘Employment for vulnerable groups’ ‘Donations’which can be divided intothreemajor categories..Gathering support from related companies, they build stations along Jeju''s coastline to promote the value of eco-friendly bicycle travel to travelers,fill the station manager positions with65and the company is responsible for creating jobs for vulnerable groups by employing seniors aged 65 and older.. Also, bicycle riding GPS By developing a donation application that allows tourists to experience easy and enjoyable donations during bicycle rides, Pureun Bike Sharing independently offers travelers a unique way to travel by bicycle in Jeju..

1month 13day I started working at the company, using the Lunar New Year as a starting point 8I planned the sequence of planning tasks I would undertake over the 8 weeks.. At the beginning, I allocated time to drafting and designing the template of proposals to send to related companies, and toward the end I allocated time to contacting related companies and establishing joint plans.. However, after the Lunar New Year there were shortcomings in cooperation with related companies, so I changed direction and carried out the development of programs the company would offer to travelers and the distribution of press releases to local and leisure-focused media based on them.. In addition, I surveyed guesthouses in the Jeju area and planned joint marketing linked with these accommodations, achieving partnerships with guesthouses in Jeju City..

8Eight weeks was not enough time to properly learn everything and experience many things.. However, being able to work as an intern at a social enterprise (rather than a regular company) in Jeju, which is famous as a tourist destination, was a special experience.. Among them, the most memorable experience was that, at a young age, I represented a company to contact other companies and sent official proposals..

Although time was short and I lacked experience and therefore did not achieve visible results,, the fact that I, as a student, engaged in actual company-to-company discussions rather than in the form of a contest will be an unforgettable experience.. One disappointing thing is that the majority of people still do not fully recognize the concept of social enterprises..

When speaking with various companies, I often encountered puzzled reactions when introducing ourselves as a social enterprise for the first time.. I suppose this reaction stems from confusing social enterprises with welfare organizations,, I also found these reactions regrettable.. Social enterprises are a sector with significant growth potential, given their diversity.. I felt that if this area improves, collaboration with related companies could become much easier..