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Showing posts from October, 2015

2015-10-27 Sharon at Sungkyungkwan University

Five years ago, on October 27, 2015, Teach North Korean Refugees Ambassador Sharon Jang spoke at Sungkyungkwon University. We have suddenly had several speaking opportunities, arranged by volunteers in TNKR. It was one of our most active times for public speaking. We had recently launched the public speaking program and we weren't yet an official organization so we had fewer Organizational responsibilities (meaning, I could then freelance a bit and organize more of these freelance events).  Of course, COVID has changed everything, but in 2021 we hope to be more active again with the public speaking program. https://www.facebook.com/donate/999256267216506 https://give.lovetnkr.com/Voices Here are my notes from five years ago: * Dead men can ask questions : Sharon spoke in Korean today, so it meant she could tell her story in more detail. A few of the students remarked that it was the first time they had concentrated that hard in class. The students, a mix of international and South

2015-10-25 TNKR 7 days a week...

It is true, TNKR is all-volunteer! Eunkoo Lee and I have jobs with other organizations. However, TNKR has taken over our lives. we are doing something about TNKR 7 days a week, and some weeks it seems to be 8 days a week! Saturday 10/24 * noon, meeting with Mulmangcho staffer * 1:30 pm Tutors tips session (7 tutors) * 2:00 pm Matching session (10 refugees, 17 tutors) * 5:00 pm dinner and discussion with tutors and refugees * 7:00 review and discuss Sunday 10/25 * 12:30 pm, orientation with 2 tutors * 3 pm, play featuring NK refugee

2015-10-23 TNKR co-founder Lartigue interviewed by Unification Media

2015-10-22 Even the interpreter cried!^^ TNKR@Osan Air Force base

Teach North Korean Refugees presented today at the Osan Air Force Base to an overflow crowd of at least 500 air force personnel and spouses (more than 300 were military personnel). One speaker delivered his talk in English, another speaker spoke in Korean. It was quite a sight to see the interpreter lose his composure while he was translating. Then I looked in the audience, and many of those tough soldiers were also crying. Getting it done! An awesome lieutenant got this done. Many people talk about arranging events for us, then, nothing happens, or we keep talking. The first time was slightly smaller scale, maybe 150 to 200 attendees. But today, it was an overflow crowd, at least 500, plus some high-ranking people joined us. Many people came over to thank me for TNKR presenting their stories. They are military people, so they appreciated hearing the human side about North Korea, about the people inside the country, about their escapes and adjustment. For our speaker

2015-10-20 Sharon Jang at Shin & Kim law firm

Last August, Sharon Jang was one of the speakers at the second (TNKR) Teach North Korean Refugees English speech contest. We held the contest in conjunction with the Shin & Kim law firm. Today Sharon returned to give a speech to the lawyers and employees at the law firm. It was a nice and touching event. Some of the young ladies seemed to be mesmerized by Sharon's speech. 2020 reflection: Before encountering TNKR, Shin & Kim had provided support for North Korean refugee adolescents, but they had not heard stories from North Korean refugee adults. After one of their key staffers heard speeches at TNKR's English speech contest, they contacted Sharon to ask if she could give a speech (thankfully Sharon mentioned it to us so we could join and also briefly introduce TNKR). TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee wasn't there because back then, she had a full-time job with a different organization. I was also with a different company, but TNKR had become a project at that organization