GS Caltex has been making great progress with its “Moum, Talk, Talk” initiative, which is a kind of collective “Artistic therapy” called “Correct Mind” to treat psychological problems. It helps children around the country grow with healthy minds to be happy and productive members of society.
So far some 9,800 children have benefited from the program since it kicked off in 2013. “GS Caltex has been thinking about how to change society to be a better place in the long term.” said Park Eun-kyeong, manager of the CSR team at GS Caltex. In order to do that, we realized that we needed to help children first, because they will eventually become the future of our society.
Since 2013, GS Caltex has been sponsoring its own art therapy program called Mom, Talk, Talk, supervised by Arts Council Korea and aimed at underprivileged children. With the help of professional art therapists, Mom, Talk, Talk has been healing the burdened minds of some 2,000 children each year through various forms of art therapy, including drawing, dancing, singing and more.
In fact, this program, which helps distressed children become happier in their daily lives through self-expression using art, is the first of its kind in Korea that is being led by a local company.
GS Caltex did not expect instant results when it first came up with the Mom, Talk, Talk program. But the company was determined to improve the children’s mental state and at the same time expand on the psychotherapeutic programs in Korea.
“As you know, the program is not the type of a thing that gives a direct result.” Park said. “However, we thought it was necessary to do and took it on as a responsibility of our company.” Currently, the company’s art therapy program operates in three major areas - local community centers, middle schools and in Yeulmaru, a culture complex built by GS Caltex in 2012 in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Education in 2012, more than 16 percent of 6 million students from seventh to 12th grade who were tested for their emotional behaviors were identified as needing extra adult supervision. The survey also found that 4.5 percent of the students, or about 200,000, were in a more serious state that could lead them to commit suicide.
These emotional struggles can come from many sources, such as school bullying, low self-esteem and domestic issues.
Taking into consideration the dire situation in Korean schools, GS Caltex embarked on their own healing program after a year of research. The company chose art therapy as a possible cure because allowing the children to express their thoughts and emotions through art because it is more effective than one-on-one therapy sessions.
They also thought that if the kids participated in the program with peers who are facing similar problems in their age group would help them develop a sense of belonging that would give them the confidence to be more active in the program. At the camp for children from fourth to sixth grade, they spend three days participating in eight sessions with an appointed art therapist.
“Since the program takes place in an isolated place, it is a new experience for them. And by developing new relationships that weren’t possible before, the kids can find a new part of themselves and begin learning how to take responsibility for their actions.” Park explained.
Chairman Huh Jin-soo of GS Caltex has been making outings lately to urge corporate social responsibility. He made an appearance at an event related to “Healing for Children” a social service program run by large corporations, making GS Caltex the first large company to send its CEO to sign an agreement with Good Neighbors, a social service organization, to continue to support the program. He said the oil company would continue its support of program so it helps children who are hurt and isolated from society.
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