2016-08-27 "Our Hearts were beating so fast"

(TNKR) Teach North Korean Refugees began in March 2013 with a simple session matching a few North Korean refugees and fluent and native English speakers together.

Three years and 5 months later, we held our 48th Matching session, on August 27, 2016.

This session was recorded from start to finish, with a cable TV crew staying from 11 am until 8:30 p.m. It was later included in the TVN special about TNKR. You can check this scene here at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/ByPev2Wl9gT/

Full TVN show: https://www.facebook.com/CaseyLartigue/videos/vb.100004020120914/1135977703212890/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab&hc_location=ufi

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

* 8 refugees chose 11 coaches to help them with public speaking

* 7 of the refugees are returnees, with several of them coming back more than once.

* Of the 11 coaches selected, 10 were first-timers and the other was joining after tutoring in Track 1 since last November.

* Of the refugees participating in this session, two later went on to give TEDx Talks, another has spoken at Harvard and Princeton Universities, and another gave a moving speech on the US military base before she decided that public speaking was not for her. One challenge we have with volunteers is that they try to rush them along, but we want the speakers to focus on the learning process and developing at their own speed.

* Several of the coaches mentioned that they learned about TNKR through Facebook. So the people whining that I post too much should unfriend me or turn off notifications from me.

Feedback from refugees:

--It was a special session because of the TV cameras. I am always thankful the tutors encourage refugees to speak out.

* I'm very excited to be joining Track 2, my heart was beating fast as I thought about joining. My English has definitely improved in Track 1, and now with Track 2, I can focus on public speaking. As I listened to the volunteers explain why they want to join the program, I almost started crying. The beautiful tutors can make a beautiful life.

* I have family reasons not to open up to the world yet. I do hope the coaches can stay with us long-term, it is really important for refugees to gain confidence in public speaking, so we can tell our stories.

* I was so nervous last night, I couldn't sleep. I saw so many beautiful volunteers, I am so honored to meet them. Knowing they are volunteering for us makes me want to study harder.

Feedback from coaches:

**I was a little nervous at first. I was more nervous when I opened the door, there were like 9 cameras there. Then I was more nervous during the session that I wouldn't get picked. It felt like elementary school when people are choosing teams. I am so impressed by the camaraderie within TNKR.

** I was also a little nervous. But I wasn't prepared to do an interview.

* I feel that both sides get a lot out of this, we also have something to learn.

* The speech contest was deeply inspiring, I am humbled to be a part of this.

**I was nervous that I might not get to participate, that I might not get chosen. So I am even more excited to be part of the experience. It was really memorable to hear the refugees talk about their goals, it can help me to be around people so determined to improve themselves.

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Freedom Factory Shareholder Meeting (2015-01-31)

Re: Building something out of nothing Freedom Factory is a very small company, of which I am a shareholder. Yesterday we had our annual shareholder meeting. Freedom Factory is allowing us to "incubate" TNKR until we can stand on our two own feet--or at least crawl on our four hands and feet. (Consumer Rights Watch is in the same position). I owe special thanks to FF CEO 김정호. He is a "true believer" in the cause of freedom, so he is allowing both projects to grow out of FF. That's even though Freedom Factory is a small start up with the CEO, staff and supporters wondering how we are going to achieve our dreams with such a tight budget. So when I say I am so thankful to the volunteers and donors of TNKR, it isn't just lip service. Volunteers--along with Freedom Factory, the Atlas Network, donors--are helping us to create something out of nothing, helping North Korean refugees find their own way and tell their own stories. Like the FF CEO, I also don...

Park Jin welcoming remarks to FSI (and Casey Lartigue)

National Assembly member Park Jin makes the welcoming remarks at FSI's conference featuring North Korean diplomats. Park Jin | Greeting message to FSI and Casey Lartigue mention - YouTube

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

2018-09-28 Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens

Most of the people who contact us at TNKR naturally want to tutor North Korean refugees. Many potential volunteers are shocked shocked shock ed to learn that they can volunteer with TNKR in other ways. I tell many of them: "Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens. There are also delivery people, accountants, marketers, personnel, and a host of other positions." Earlier this year, we began developing the TNKR Volunteer Leadership Academy. I'm still waiting for someone to take over that little project. Until then, I will continue with developing it. And be developing it, I mean telling people, "Don't write me a long business plan about what you would like to do. Just start doing it, keep me updated and in the conversations, then let's talk and update." We have had a recent influx of volunteers who want to help TNKR in other ways. Jackie Cole is now running our Instagram. She constantly surprises me with the flyers and videos she posts. I made it clear from the ...

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