Finding the ‘Haja’ Spirit: Building a Creative Sanctuary for Today’s Youth
- Schools ON AIR
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
Twenty-five years ago, in the heart of Seoul’s vibrant Sinchon district, there was a unique space with a provocative name: the 'Haja Center.' In Korean, Haja (하자) has a double meaning. It can refer to a 'defect' or 'flaw,' but it also means "Let’s do it!"
At the time, South Korean society was deeply conservative, and students who dropped out of school were often labeled as 'defective' by the system. However, within the walls of the Haja Center, these young people reclaimed the word. They didn't see themselves as broken; they saw themselves as doers. I was fortunate enough to spend time there, holding cameras and producing short films alongside these teenagers. I watched as their eyes lit up, not because they had solved a math problem, but because they were discovering their own voices through art and technology.
The Haja Center taught us a profound lesson: children are not merely objects to be taught, but partners in designing their own lives. Instead of report cards, they produced creative works. Instead of memorizing answers, they learned how to ask the right questions. This model of alternative education proved so successful that, 25 years later, the center still thrives, now focusing on climate crisis projects and AI literacy.
As I lead Schools ON AIR (SOA) in Canada, I often reflect on that ‘Haja’ spirit. Our students—whether they are local residents or international students—face immense pressure. Even in a more flexible Western educational environment, the obsession with elite universities and standardized success remains a heavy burden. Many feel isolated, struggling to find their identity in a multicultural world.
I believe it is time to build a 'Modern Haja Center'—a creative laboratory where youth can experiment with digital technology, connect with peers globally, and blend their cultural roots with local diversity. We need a system where students don't just listen to success stories from seniors, but actually collaborate on real-world projects that solve community problems. This sense of agency—the feeling of being "useful" and "capable"—is the greatest gift we can give them.
What our youth need most is not a perfect resume, but a safety net (or 'scaffolding') provided by adults who say, "It’s okay to fail; try it your way." The ‘flawed’ kids I met 20 years ago have grown into incredible adults who are now carving out their own paths in various industries. If you are worried because your child’s pace seems slower or their path seems different, I encourage you to wait. Give them the space to find their own "Let’s do it!" moment.
At Schools ON AIR, we aren't just looking for one right path; we are helping students discover the power to design their own. The spirit of the Haja Center—one of creative collaboration and bold experimentation—is more relevant now than ever.
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