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“I thought I was the only one who had it tough—but now my story is turning into a beautiful melody that’s finding its way out into the world.”
On the 30th, the Dalseo-gu Senior Welfare Center in Daegu arranged a meaningful day out. They took 20 older women who never learned to read and had endured hard years to explore Chilgok County and Daegu’s Suseong District as part of the Finding My Story program.
Supported by the Daegu Community Chest through the My Life, My Melody project, this outing was far more than sightseeing. It was a journey of remembering, self-affirmation, and emotional connection—a chance for participants to reflect on their lives and share what matters most to them.
Their first stop was Heari-gil by Dongmyeong Reservoir in Chilgok, where the group paused to listen. They were moved by the rough-hewn, sincere poems of the “Chilgok grandmothers”—women who learned to read later in life—and many wiped away tears as they listened.
At Farmdawon, a nature and culture space on Jinbat-gil in Suseong District, Farmdawon sponsored a horticultural therapy session.
Getting their hands in the soil, the seniors planted succulents and made small planters. The simple act of creating helped them find emotional balance and gave them a way to project inner stories they had long kept inside onto the plants themselves.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Gansong Art Museum in Daegu. Encountering the core of Korean culture and art widened their horizons, and for many who have spent a lifetime sacrificing for family and missing out on cultural experiences, the visit was especially precious.
Now in its second year, the program will culminate in producing an audio track: the seniors’ spoken memories and life stories will be shaped into lyrics and set to melody, creating a single song that carries their voices.
Kim Jin-hong, director of the Dalseo-gu Senior Welfare Center, said, “I hope this program gave the seniors a space to share their stories and find comfort and empathy in one another. We’ll keep offering a variety of programs so older adults can discover renewed energy and confidence.”
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