The smell of freshly baked pastries greets us from the corner as we head to the store.
This popular bakery, bursting with morning customers is run by less-abled women.
For all appearances, they don't seem any different from the rest of us.
However, these women are have
[Interview : Goh Young-sook, Visually impaired baker] "I feel really satisfied when I am baking, or when customers buy our products. I am happy that we can earn money."
We headed to Gyeonggi Province to visit a firm that has been certified as both eco-friendly and as an employer of less-abled persons.
The products made here, with materials that have met environmental standards, are sold with a certification label.
[Interview : Han Man-uk, Team Manager
Chung-eum Workshop] "We are trying very hard to meet the highest environmental and quality standards. We need to pioneer into new markets in a way that is fit for this day and age. The employees, whether they are differently-abled or not, make products that meet industry standards and our productivity is on the rise. So it's a win-win situation."
There are 29 employees at this firm.
Among them, only 6 are not less-abled.
[Interview : Cho Chung-soon, Employee
Chung-eum Workshop] "Since I am working with disabled people, I learned some sign language, but I only know a little bit."
Although there are physical limitations, they help each other and see them through to the finish line.
[Interview : Han Won-soon, Employee
Chung-eum Workshop] "I am working using only one arm. Although I'm not as productive as others, I am trying my very best and will continue to do so."
[Interview : Cho Han-seok, Hearing-impaired employee
Chung-eum Workshop] "I want to apply myself fully to learning everything about carpentry."
The battle to eliminate discrimination and prejudice in our society continues each day.
APR 20, 2009
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in National News |
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Arirang Town
Wednesday, FEB 10, 2010, (KST) 
