Fathers in Seoul unite for educational and personal development workshop
In a meeting room in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, fathers gathered for an enlightening experience. The occasion was the Papa School: Fatherhood Care Capacity-Building Workshop, hosted by the UN Women Center for Knowledge and Partnerships and Root Impact, a non-governmental organisation.
The workshop aimed to address the reality that caregiving is largely women's work, and men have limited opportunities to learn or practice caregiving. Hwang Yun-jeong, director of the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Center, emphasised the benefits of active father involvement. She stated that it improves family happiness, boosts children's self-esteem and emotional development, strengthens spousal relationships, and enhances fathers' mental health and life satisfaction.
Noh Hwan-hee, a father of two young children, acknowledged the importance of adjusting his emotions and expressing them more thoughtfully to positively affect his parenting. Heo Jae-hyung, the CEO of Root Impact and a father to a 67-day-old baby, found the experience personal and set a clearer path for his fatherhood journey. Heo expressed his intent to ensure the Papa School continues into its second and third rounds.
Participants shared concerns such as losing patience, handling a crying child, and struggling with play. They found relief in shared experiences and practical exercises on communication, emotional awareness, and age-specific parenting challenges. Role-playing exercises, where fathers switched between parent and child perspectives, were particularly insightful.
Facilitator Kim Ki-tak guided fathers in a self-reflection exercise about their fathering styles. Park, another participant, realised he had approached his relationship with his children too rationally and wanted to understand them more and share emotions.
The Papa School utilises evidence-based curricula tailored to individual needs, including the comprehensive "24/7 Dad" curriculum. This structured program improves fathers' parenting skills, enhancing their ability to provide care and support within their families, fostering positive family dynamics and child development.
The imbalance in caregiving reinforces gender inequality and deprives men of the chance to build deeper family bonds and improve their life satisfaction. Social norms, workplace structures, and cultural expectations continue to hinder men's active participation in unpaid care work.
The Papa School: Fatherhood Care Capacity-Building Workshop provides working fathers the opportunity to reflect on their caregiving role, develop family communication skills, and strengthen emotional connections with their loved ones. Many fathers found the program transformative, realising the impact of their emotional reactions on their children.
Root Impact recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN Women Center to strengthen their partnership for social change. The workshop was part of a three-part series, marking a significant step towards empowering fathers and promoting healthier, more supportive home environments.
- With a focus on enhancing their emotional connections and expanding their caregiving skills, participants of the Papa School: Fatherhood Care Capacity-Building Workshop expressed interest in extending the program to subsequent rounds, aiming to create a more balanced lifestyle at home and garden.
- As the Papa School strives to bridge the caregiving gap and challenge traditional gender roles, its comprehensive curricula and practical exercises provide fathers with the knowledge and tools to improve family dynamics, contribute to home-and-garden life, and boost overall life satisfaction.
