Teach North Korean Refugees

In 2020, one of TNKR's main goals will be engaging with North Korean refugees seeking employment and education opportunities.

As part of the initiative, TNKR hopes to hire North Korean refugees as interns in our office. We will offer refugees 500,000 won a month to intern with us.

Some of the students in TNKR have offered to intern for free or for miniumum amounts, as thanks, but we think it will be more meaningful for them and more of a commitment if they were paid at least a minimum amount.

You can help by becoming a monthly donor to this project. The more money we raise, the more interns we can employ (although three would probably be the maxiumum at any given time).

In addition to monthly donors, any donations could help this project.

A lot of you often have asked me how you can help the situation in North Korea. So this is the chance where you can make that difference. TNKR gives voices to North Korea defectors to share their stories internationally by teaching them English for free. This is really a tip of iceberg of what they are doing. The founders of TNKR and the volunteers that I met showed me an unconditional care and that gave me a confidence that we can free North Koreans if we know what is going on.

I hope we do something positive to show that people are still kind and we still have hope in this world. I am eternally grateful for all your support and please give any little amount you can or just share with your friends. You could become an individual donor to help TNKR become a sustainable organization or donating once is fine too.

Give. Educate. Learn.

TEACH NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES is a project and book club started to help people - refugees. And while it is for helping people, you'll also be having a little bit of fun doing it, that is, if you're into books.

By donating you'll get to be a part of a book drawing when we have a book club discussion - a chance to win a signed copy of a book written by a North Korean refugee.

Books such as:

English
* Dear Leader by Jang Jin-sung
* A Thousand Miles from Freedom by Eunsun Kim
* Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee
* In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
* Under the Same Sky by Joseph Kim
* The Aquariums of Pyongyang

Korean
* Sunhee by Lee Ju Song
3층 서기실의 암호 by 태영호 (Thae Yong-ho)

And what's more? You even have a say over the book you would like to win by - emailing Casey Lartigue CJL@ alumni.harvard.edu to let him know which book you would like when you win.

Give. Educate. Learn.

To find more resources about North Korea, check the archive that TNKR is compiling.
http://teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org/2018/01/tnkr-resource-list/

Eleven North Korean refugees have set up fundraisers supporting TNKR. It is incredible because many of them had no concept of civil society before joining our organization. After studying with volunteers, many of them say they hope to volunteer one day.

Some of them even take that next step--fundraising for TNKR!

Who are the eleven? They include published authors, public speakers, human rights activists, YouTubers, and low-profile students who all speak out on behalf of TNKR.

To celebrate the new decade, I am starting a TNKR fundraiser all the way from Boston, MA. With a new year comes new dreams, new goals, and new perspectives. I hope to reign in the new year (and new decade) by raising $10k as a cheers to TNKR's future and all the good work the organization has done already.

--Edward Kyungjun Mun

Harvard alumni have recently begun discussing how to support the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education.

September 5th!!! It is the birthday of TNKR Co-founder Casey Lartigue Jr!! 

9월 5일은 TNKR의 공동대표,  케이시 대표님의 생일 입니다!!  

Mr. Casey is an American now living and working in South Korea. Instead of working as a researcher or commentator in the USA, he has been working directly with North Korean refugees for 7 years. Even though he isn't Korean, he established TNKR in 2013 along with Eunkoo Lee. Behind-the-scenes, he counsels, mentors and sponsors North Korean refugees.

TNKR 케이시 대표님은 한국에서 거주하며 일하고 계시는 미국인 대표 입니다. 미국에서 충분한 월급을 받을 수 있는 연구자 혹은 애널리스트의 삶보다는  한국에서 탈북민들의 영어공부를 돕는 삶을 살고 있습니다. 그리고 2013년 이은구 대표님과 함께  TNKR을 세우는 등 7여년간 탈북민을 위해서 일하고 있습니다.
 외국인임에도 불구하고, 탈북민들의 교육, 자유를 위해 끊임없는 열정을 가지고 있으며,  때로는 탈북민들의 상담자로, 멘토로 혹은 후원자로 함께하고 있습니다. 

We asked Mr. Casey how we could celebrate his birthday this year. We aren't surprised when he said: "A fundraiser for TNKR. All gifts for me, except expensive cars, can be donated to TNKR."
올해 케이시 대표님께 어떻게 생일을 축하하면 좋을지 여쭤봤습니다. 너무나 당연하다는듯이,  생일축하는 TNKR을 위한 후원모금으로 하자고 이야기하였습니다.  

Together, let's make a great fundraiser for TNKR, to honor Mr. Casey's great work. No contribution to this goal is too small, and we appreciate any help in supporting TNKR to continue working with North Korean Refugees. 
케이시 대표님의 생일을 함께 축하하고자 하는 모든 분들은 TNKR의 모금활동에 참여해주세요! 모금된 후원금은 앞으로 TNKR 발전을 위해 쓰일 것 입니다.

Please watch these testimonials from TNKR volunteers, staffers, fans, donors and, of course, North Korean refugee students wishing Mr. Casey a Happy Birthday!
후원을 통해서  케이시 대표님의 생일을 축하해주세요!
이 영상에서는 TNKR스텝, 봉사자,  후원자, 그리고 학생들의 생일 축하 메세지를 볼 수 있습니다.

Happy Birthday to Casey Lartigue, co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center!
https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/casey-bday

Testimonials from: Yeonmi Park, Jang Jin-Sung, Ken Eom, Cherie Yang, Kang Nara, Eunhee Park, Sharon, Yuna Jung, Jade Kim, Chanyang, Hwang In-Cheol, John Schuldt, Youngmin Kwon, Georgene Zaydell, Injae Lee, Eben Appleton, Janice Kim, Park Eunjung and Lee Jungbin, Daniel, Han Minyoung, Joo Yeon, and TNKR staff.

I was an ordinary person who loved to watch baseball, movies and sometimes loved to go shopping when I felt stress from my job. People don't believe it, but I'm really shy and preferred being behind-the-scenes.

Then much to my surprise, I became the co-founder of TNKR.

It was like a new world for me.

I have met so many nice people. For the first time, I have had to be a leader, not just a team member. I am really thankful to Casey Lartigue for helping me develop leadership skills. When we first started, I offered to be the assistant director, and he would be the director. But he refused, and he even fired me until I was ready to be a leader, to be co-director of TNKR. And it worked!

I have met so many nice volunteer teachers. I have enjoyed building TNKR with people who tries to help us.

Although I had worked with North Korean refugees in other jobs, for the first time, I could see them extremely motivated to take charge of their own lives. We developed a process where they had to take responsibility for their own learning, not just follow.

TNKR has changed my life! I have become a more active person. Instead of doing just enough to keep my job, I am now co-founder and co-director of a program that does something practical to help others!

Setting up this fundraiser is another challenge for me. I have never been a public person.

Because of TNKR, I have the confidence to give this a try! I hope that TNKR will one day become a larger organization that can help others. Every day, refugees call me to thank TNKR staff and teachers, to let me know that it has changed them. I want them to know that it has also changed me. Together, we can keep making a difference in the lives of others, and ourselves.

저는 영화보는 것을 좋아하는, 야구보는것을 좋아하는 그리고 하는일 때문에 스트레스를 받으면 종종 쇼핑도 즐기는 아주 평범한 사람이였습니다. 또한, 나서기보다는 뒤에서 일하는 소심한 사람이기도 하였습니다.

이런 사람이었던 제가 TNKR의 공동대표가 되어 현재 이 일을 하고 있습니다.
TNKR은 저를 바꾸는 계기였습니다.

저는 TNKR을 통해 아주 멋진 사람들을 만났습니다. 먼저는 함께 공동대표로 함께 하고 있는 Casey 입니다. 사실 제가 리더로 준비되어 있지 않았을 때도 기다려주며, 저의 부족한점을 채워주었습니다. 또한, 리더로서 포기하려 할때도 격려해주었습니다
(종종 의견대립이 있기는 하지만요^^)

그리고 TNKR를 통해 멋진 자원봉사들을 만났고, TNKR를 성장하도록 돕는 많은 분들을도 만났습니다.

그리고, TNKR의 자원봉사선생님들, 또한 열심히 공부하는 탈북민들을 만날때면, 보람을 느끼게 됩니다.

TNKR 은 저의 인생을 참 많이 바꾸어 놓았습니다.

좀더 자신감있는 사람으로, 실제적으로 누군가를 돕는 사람으로 바꾸어 놓았습니다! 그리고 이렇게 제 생일을 위한 후원페이지까지 개설할 수 있는 용기까지 생겼습니다.

그러나, TNKR을 안정적인 단체로 키우는 것은 저에게 또다른 도전입니다. 저는 일주일에 적어도 한통이상의 전화, 문자, 카톡메시지를 탈북민들에게 받습니다. 그 분들은 모두 영어공부를 하기 원하기 때문입니다. TNKR 이 저의 인생에 의미 있는 변화를 가져온 것 처럼 TNKR이 탈북민들의 인생에도 의미있는 도움을 주는 단체가 되었으면 합니다. 함께, 누군가의 인생에 도움이 되는 일에 함께해주세요!

감사합니다.

An American who has been following TNKR since 2014 made a $5,000 donation to TNKR last night (October 29).

There's one "catch": The money is restricted and is to be held in a separate account until we match it by raising $5,000.

The reason? He wanted to provide all donors with 100% assurance in advance that their funds would be matched, and released the moment it hits $5,000, with zero delay.

The deadline? He suggests it would be better for us to take the challenge of raising this in one month.

Why is he doing this? Here are a few of the things he said when we talked.

He is inspired by:

* TNKR's staff keeping the focus on empowering North Korean refugees and building an organization from nothing.

* North Korean refugees studying so hard to improve themselves, and those who are willing to share their stories.

* Volunteers giving so much of their time as tutors and mentors.

Item 1: TNKR volunteer Alannah Hill donated her birthday gift money (about 400,000 won, $335) in honor of the North Korean refugee mother who reportedly starved to death.

Item 2: Over the past few years, several North Korean refugee mothers studying in TNKR have come to us asking for assistance. We are not a one-stop shop for social issues, but we have helped them behind-the-scenes with various issues.

Item 3: In 2017, TNKR received a one-time donation of almost 3 million won to distribute in the form of scholarships for North Korean refugees, but that lasted only one year. All seven beneficiaries were North Korean refugee women studying in TNKR, they each received about 400,000 won.

Item 4: Mirroring the general population of North Korean refugees who have escaped to South Korea, about 76% of students in TNKR are North Korean refugee women.

Inspired by the donation today and the other items above, TNKR would like to resume scholarships for North Korean refugee women studying in our program. Nothing against the men, if you would like to support a scholarship for North Korean refugee men, please contact us, if we have at least one donor giving a significant amount then we can launch such a fundraiser.

Originally named "English Matching," Teach North Korean Refugees has helped almost 400 North Korean refugees with adjusting to living outside of North Korea. We have done this on a tight budget, relying on our volunteers and fans. Despite our limitations, we have had a number of success stories and are a non-profit that North Korean refugees seek out.

We now have a fan who has offered us the most ambitious matching donation challenge. He says that in 2019, he will raise more money than I have for TNKR. Please accept this challenge along with me! He is in the finance industry, and confident he can twist enough arms to help us become more financially stable.

To be clear: your donations to this fundraising page will be matched. Doubled. If you give $100, it will become $200. If you give $500, it will become $1,000. If you give $5 a month, it will become $10 a month.

These donations are tax-deductible in the USA and South Korea.

If you have trouble donating via this website then contact me directly for other options. TNKR@teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org or CJL@alumni.harvard.edu

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JAPANESE

TNKR 2019 寄付額倍増チャレンジ

プロジェクトについて

もともと「イングリッシュ・マッチング」の名前で活動していた、現在のTeach North Korean Refugees は、400 人を超える北朝鮮難民の外国生活をサポートしてきました。予算が限られている中で、ボランティアやサポーターの方々のおかげでこのプロジェクトは実現しています。このような制約の中でも、私たちはいくつものサクセス・ストーリーを生み出しており、北朝鮮難民が拠り所とする非営利団体として活動しています。

一人のサポーターの方が、他の方が払った寄付金と同額を払うことで、史上最高の目標額達成を目指す寄付額倍増チャレンジを提案してくれました。彼は、私が現在用意しているTNKRの資金よりも多い額の資金を2019年の1年で調達すると宣言したのです。ぜひこのチャレンジに私と一緒に参加してください。彼は金融業界で働いており、TNKRがより財政的に安定できるようなサポートを提供するのに必要な協力を得られるはずだと確信しています。

ここで明確にしておきたいことは、このファンドレイジングでいただいた寄付は2倍になるということです。例えば、100ドル寄付すると、寄付額は200ドルに、500ドルの寄付なら1,000ドルになります。毎月5ドル寄付すれば、毎月10ドルの寄付額になります。

ここでの寄付は、アメリカと韓国において課税控除対象となります。

ウェブサイトからの寄付ができない場合は、下記メールアドレスまで直接お問い合わせください。他の寄付方法をご案内します。

TNKR@teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org または CJL@alumni.harvard.edu

***

FRENCH

Le défi des dons jumelés de TNKR 2019

À propos de ce projet

Teach North Korean Refugees, initialement appelé « English Matching », a aidé plus de 400 réfugiés nord-coréens à s'adapter à leur nouvelle vie. Nous y sommes parvenus malgré un budget serré, en nous appuyant sur l'aide de nos bénévoles et de nos fans. En dépit des difficultés, notre organisation à but non lucratif a connu un certain nombre de réussites et est très recherchée par les réfugiés nord-coréens.

Un de nos fans nous a récemment lancé un défi des plus ambitieux en matière de dons jumelés. Il prétend pouvoir collecter plus de fonds que moi pour TNKR en 2019. Qui veut relever ce défi avec moi ? Ce fan, qui travaille dans le secteur de la finance, est persuadé qu'il peut nous aider à devenir plus stables financièrement.

En clair, tous les dons que vous verserez à cette page de collecte de fonds seront jumelés. Doublés. Donc si vous faîtes don de 100 $, ce montant sera au final de 200 $. Si vous donnez 500 $, 1 000 $. Un don de 5 $ par mois lui correspondra à 10 $.

Ces dons sont déductibles d'impôt aux Etats-Unis et en Corée du Sud.

Si vous rencontrez des difficultés pour faire un don via ce site, n'hésitez pas à me contacter directement pour d'autres options à TNKR@teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org ou à CJL@alumni.harvard.edu

***

Brazil Portuguese

Desafio de doações dobradas da TNKR 2019

Sobre este projeto

Originalmente chamado "English Matching", o Teach North Korean Refugees ajudou mais de 400 refugiados norte-coreanos a se adaptarem a viver fora da Coreia do Sul. Fizemos isso com um orçamento apertado, contando com nossos voluntários e fãs. Apesar de nossas limitações, tivemos várias histórias de sucesso e somos uma organização sem fins lucrativos muito procurada pelos refugiados norte-coreanos.

Um de nossos fãs nos ofereceu o desafio de doação mais ambicioso até agora: Ele diz que em 2019, ele vai arrecadar mais dinheiro do que eu tenho para TNKR. Vamos lá, aceite este desafio comigo! Ele trabalha no setor financeiro e está confiante de que pode convencer gente suficiente a nos ajudar a alcançar nossa estabilidade financeira.

Para deixarmos claro: suas doações nesta página de angariação de fundos serão dobradas. Se você doar US$100, ela se tornará US$200. Se você doar US$500, se tornará US$1.000. Se você der US$5 por mês, ela se tornará US$10 por mês.

Essas doações são isentas de tributação, tanto nos Estados Unidos quanto na Coreia do Sul.

Se você tiver alguma dificuldade ao doar pelo site, entre em contato: TNKR@teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org ou CJL@alumni.harvard.edu

NOTE: Translations by the MIIS TNKR Localization Team

Help support Teach North Korean Refugees! Please take a look at our customized accessories such as the TNKR tote bag, backpack, wristbands, towels pens and mug.  Click on Gallery for more information and images!

To purchase enter the item amount under "single donation."  When you are finished please email TNKR with your information at

For those purchasing from abroad:

Free shipping to purchases 30,000 Won/ 30 Dollar or more 

Individual colors/designs may not be selected for the following items:

pens,  backpacks, totes, and towels 

Available colors may be selected for the following items:

Bracelet (Red, Pink, Blue, Yellow, Lime Green, and Mint)

*Please specify your preferred color via email