Skip to main content

2019-09-20 Why freedom is essential

 


The winner of TNKR's 10th English speech contest today donated the prize money she received from the speech contest (1.09 million won, about $835) to TNKR.

Chaeeun's fundraiser: https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/fundraisers/Why-freedom-is-essential

Yes, that's what I wrote, and that's what happened! A North Korean refugee studying in TNKR just donated 1 million won to TNKR.

There are three main reasons I want to share this donation publicly. 1) So often we have people tell us, "You need to have testimonials from North Korean refugees." Somehow, *actions* by North Korean refugees are less impressive to people than words written up by a marketing specialist with soft music in the background and the right camera angles and video editing. Instead of staged videos, what kind of actions by North Korean refugees in TNKR am I talking about? --Referring other refugees to TNKR. We have not had to recruit refugees to join TNKR since our first year and we always have a waiting list no matter how many sessions we hold. --Returning to TNKR as often as possible. Some refugees contact us from abroad to let us know when they will be returning and some others call us as soon as they return! --Setting up fundraisers. We now have 11 North Korean refugees who have set up fundraisers for TNKR. That's even though we rarely discuss it with them. --Donating to TNKR. --Trying to connect us with others. But apparently those many actions still aren't as good as a 2 minute video testimonial written by a marketing genius with the right camera angles and music. 2) I have heard from more than one person that North Korean refugees join our speech contest because they are desperate for the opportunity to earn the prize money. Of course, my response is: "if that is true, why aren't more refugees joining the speech contest?" We have had 10 contests, most refugees join once or twice, for the challenge of speaking before an audience or the opportunity to say something. We have had 424 North Korean refugees study in TNKR, but only about 50 of them have joined the public speaking program and the speech contests. 3) Her donation can inspire others. A lady born in North Korea, where there is basically no concept of civil society, now married with two children, has decided to donate 1 million won to TNKR. I'm sure she could have bought many baby diapers and toys with that money instead. She has studied with 13 tutors and speech coach mentors in TNKR.

She says that her English has improved so much and that we provide the opportunity for North Korean refugees to share their thoughts, that she is so inspired by TNKR. She has referred many North Korean refugees to TNKR, and so many of them have told her about the great experience they have had studying with tutors and speech coach mentors.


Many people ask us "how are you going to spend the money?" Chaeeun didn't ask. I guess she can see how valuable TNKR has been for her and other refugees. **** Chaeeun's donation (and to be clear, she did not ask for us to highlight this, but agreed when she realized it would be valuable for TNKR and is cheering for it now) Chaeeun's fundraiser: https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/fundraisers/Why-freedom-is-essential

Excerpt from her speech at my "Voices from the North" blog at the Korea Times:

https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/09/728_275537.html


Korea Times article about the speech contest: 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/09/113_274994.html

Popular posts from this blog

Obama debating Keyes, 2004, education excerpt

PONCE : Thank you. Let's move to the question of education. Mr. Obama, you've said that you consider education as the most important civil rights issue facing America today. Currently, your children are in private schools. If you're elected to the Senate, will you send them to public schools? OBAMA: Well, my children currently go to the lab school at the University of Chicago where I teach, and my wife works, and we get a good deal for it. But, so - - (laughter, applause) OBAMA: - -it depends on whether we move or not. And that, obviously, hinges on the election and what's gonna happen. We're gonna choose the best possible education for our children, as I suspect all parents are gonna try to do. And that's part of the reason why, consistently when I've been in the state legislature, I've tried to promote those kinds of reforms that would improve what I think is an inadequate performance by too many public schools, all across the state. PONCE : But yo...
Read more

Breen's column that outraged Samsung

“What People Got for Christmas” Michael Breen The Korea Times December 25, 2009 At this time of year when Seoul’s bare winter trees are wrapped in beckoning lights ― blue and white are the in colors ― and Merry Xmas signs at hotels and department stores are really saying come-hither-gentle-reveler-and-empty-your-purse, and when expensive restaurants belch noisy year-end office party groups onto every street and the karaoke rooms are full, it is tempting to declare that Christmas has lost its soul. But that would be a mistake. Christmas is a time for giving, and, before they can be given, gifts have to be bought. Commerce is good. Here, as proof, is a round up of some of the gifts given and received today by people in the news. Samsung, the world’s largest conglomerate and the rock upon which the Korean economy rests, sent traditional year-end cards offering best wishes for 2010 to the country’s politicians, prosecutors and journalists, along with 50 million w...
Read more

Rating the 10 Magazine speakers

I attended another 10 Magazine speech organized by Barry Welsh. Here are my unofficial grades for the speakers I have heard so far: 1) Shin Dong Hyuk (A+) : The audience was captivated. A few ladies were in tears as he discussed his escape from North Korea, his adjustment to living in South Korea, his difficulty at enjoying life. I first met Shin shortly before the best-selling book (Escape from Camp 14) in America about him was published, and was a bit surprised when he recognized me at an event and struck up a conversation with me even though he is so shy. Even though I was already familiar with his story, it was still great to hear it first hand in an informal setting. I threw a curveball at him, mentioning that that some people have doubted the veracity of his story. He took it in stride. After escaping from a prison camp in North Korea, I guess that there aren't many things that could rattle him. Shin, Lartigue 2) Michael Breen (A): An outstanding mix of humo...
Read more

Race, race, race

On the issue of race: Clinton goes first, (surprisingly) without her Selma accent. Biden doesn’t mention that there is a clean and article black person on the stage. Richardson says the next president must talk about race…we need less talk about race, and more about individual action. Edwards said something, apparently to help us transition to the only somewhat black candidate on the panel. Obama has the home field advantage being at Howard, but doesn’t do much with the initial question. Kucinich says that people are told to raise themselves up by their own bootstraps, but then they steal the boots. He gets the loudest cheers. This will be a long night if that continues... Gravel —who? Dodd —like the 64th team in the NCAA basketball pool, Dodd should be one and done. Brb, I’m checking on the NBA draft… CJL
Read more

Don't Call It A Comeback

I recently joined the Center for Free Enterprise in South Korea as Director of International Relations. Scroll down to click through to my bio . That means that I have resumed writing and speaking and will be actively seeking opportunities. Will start with letters and opinion pieces in the local papers until I hit on something worth sending abroad. As LL Cool J said, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." This has to be one of the coolest jobs I have ever had. My boss has given me complete freedom to do whatever I want. Of course, after one year, we will evaluate. To get an idea of the kinds of things I can do, check out this original rap video created by CFE . It is a pro-free trade, anti-welfare rap. Last night my boss thanked me for giving them the idea last year, even before I joined the company. * I helped bring the Harvard University men's soccer team to South Korea . They were here for 13 days, played 3 games, visited the DMZ, and had a lot...
Read more