It takes a lot of courage to open up to someone. Sharing the burdens of my heart with someone—that in itself is a source of great strength— I can find the courage to open up. We met with Im Sol-bin, CEO of ‘Want,’ we met with Im Sol-bin, CEO of ‘Want’.
What kind of project are you working on?
Hello, I’m Im Sol-bin, CEO of Want, where we read people and write about love. WANT is a place where writing and people come together. We run a variety of writing programs. Through the act of writing, we provide opportunities to explore the life you truly desire and a future you look forward to.
With the slogan “Anyone can be a writer,” we created a program called “Today I Am a Writer.” Here, we independently publish one book every year. In addition, we run programs such as “Film Digging Day,” where we watch 24 life-defining films together, share food featured in the movies, and discuss the films; “Wanna Trip,” where we travel to unfamiliar places in the city with strangers and write about our experiences; and “1:1 Customized Classes” for those who wish to publish their own books.
What is “Today I’m a Writer,” one of Want’s signature programs?
For the independent publishing program "Today I Am an Author," we post a call for applications on social media at the beginning of each year to recruit participants. People from a wide range of professions and age groups apply. The participants who come together in this way visit the Want space once every two weeks to write together and discuss a variety of topics. The program runs for a year, and at the end of it, they publish a book.
The books published through "Today I Am an Author" focus on helping participants express their emotions based on their personal experiences. Even those who had previously found it difficult to open up elsewhere felt incredibly free to share their stories here at Want. Seeing this made us feel a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing that we are having a positive impact on our participants. Fortunately, as time goes on, we’ve become increasingly convinced that this program is a much-needed activity for more people than we initially thought.
I heard you’re also running a special project for children who have aged out of the foster care system. What kind of activities does it involve?
Children leaving care are young people who must leave care facilities and start living on their own at the age of 18. They are now referred to as “youth preparing for independence.” When the time comes for these young people to prepare for independence, they receive a support grant of about 5 million won. In reality, with today’s housing prices, it’s nearly impossible to find a place to live with that amount of money. There is no system in place to provide support not only for housing but also for daily living expenses. As a result, many of these young people end up going down the wrong path or making the decision to take their own lives.
When I first learned about these challenges, I assumed that the most pressing issue would be the financial hardship they faced. However, as I thought more deeply about the situation and learned more, I realized that what was causing them the most distress was the lack of anyone to turn to for support as they navigated their lives. I empathized with their situation and wondered if there was any way I could help them, which is what led me to start this project.
While working on projects with children who have aged out of the foster care system, when did you feel the most fulfilled?
One of the friends I met came to Want while going through a really tough time. On the surface, she didn’t seem to be carrying any emotional scars, but one day, during a Want activity, she opened up about the pain she had experienced in the past. I listened to the stories of their painful experiences and walked alongside them through the process of offering comfort and healing. As time went on, I could see their wounds gradually healing. Seeing our friends change for the better, little by little, is what makes me feel most proud.
Through this Wadiz crowdfunding campaign, Want plans to donate approximately 700 books—excluding those sold during the campaign—to middle and high schools across the country. We hope that by reading the books we’ve published, middle and high school students will naturally develop a proper understanding of children in foster care. We also hope that young people who have aged out of the foster care system will read this book and realize that older siblings who were in similar circumstances are living boldly and vigorously in the world.
What plans and goals does Want have?
All of the programs run by Want are rooted in our hope that people can use the act of writing to chart the course of the life they desire. We run these programs with the hope that people will live autonomous lives where they set their own standards, rather than conforming to standards set by others or society. We hope that Want can serve as the starting point for you to begin such a life.
Going forward, I’d like to try running writing programs for children growing up in single-parent households or those who have experienced domestic violence. While I don’t have any concrete plans yet, I hope to continue developing programs that can help heal children facing difficult circumstances through the activities we’re already engaged in, such as independent publishing and postcard books.
When you think about what you can do from your own position, you’ll inevitably find small ways to make a difference in the world. Want will continue to strive to create these small but meaningful changes that transform the world.
Just knowing that there is even one person who understands us is often enough to give us the strength to live life to the fullest. Wadizwill always be cheering you on, hoping that “Want”—a space where you can discover your true self—will become a place that brings light to the darkness in the lives of many more people.
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