My name is Andrea Escobedo and from the months of February to April of 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR).

Being a recent graduate with a Master’s in International Relations, I had been looking for an opportunity that would lead me to challenge myself all the while allowing me to contribute – in whatever way possible – to a cause as important as that of North Korean Human Rights. When I received the NKHR’s acceptance letter, then, I packed my bag full of hope and motivation and left for Seoul. I could never have imagined how much I would learn and grow during my short time with the NGO.

As an intern with the Advocacy and Campaigns Team, I was led to carry out many interesting tasks so as to help raise awareness and shed light on the Human Rights situation in North Korea. I also had the opportunity of joining the NKHR’s Rescue Fund – an incredibly dynamic team made up of amazing individuals devoted to the rescuing of North Korean refugees – where I was able to help organize the NKHR’s Annual Fundraiser for Refugee Rescues. Both of my roles as Intern and Volunteer motivated me greatly and I remain extremely grateful to my bosses and fellow volunteers for all that they taught me in the process.

While both of the aforementioned opportunities were incredibly fulfilling, I believe that the experience that taught me and helped me grow the most was tutoring North Korean students. I had had experience with tutoring students in English before, but this was a completely different situation.

Having little to no knowledge of the Korean language, I was worried that I would have to find new ways to make the students feel comfortable and keep them engaged (thank you for the confidence boost, Google Translate!). I found out, however, that the students had an amazing drive to learn and that, in their earnest will to make their dreams come true, they were willing to work extremely hard. I truly believe that I learnt more from them than what I could ever have taught them. They showed me that your age, past or present situations and circumstances do not and cannot entirely define your capacity to dream and to chase after those dreams. I will never forget when, during one conversation with one particularly bright student, I asked him what he wanted to do later on in life. Flashing a huge grin at me, he said: “a Diplomat”.  Sharing the same dream as him, I can only hope that he will find success, in whatever way that should come.
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In short, my time at the NKHR allowed me to meet incredible humans – both those arduously at work to make this world a better place, and those seeking to chase after their dreams. I hope that this step in my young professional career will always remain with me as a reminder of all the great change that motivation and dedication to important causes can bring.

NKHR Rescue Fund is officially launching our annual fundraiser for North Korean refugee rescues!
If you are in Korea, please join us on April 22nd at our fundraiser Sockhop 'Til You Drop in Hongdae!
We have also created an online campaign on Global Giving so that friends and family anywhere can get involved!!
Our goal is to raise $7,500 to help three more individuals escaping North Korea reach safety in South Korea.
Our page on Global Giving is linked to contribute funds directly to the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights' refugee campaign, which has been vetted and is tax-deductible for US citizens!
Sockhop 'Til You Drop attendees are in for some GREAT raffle prizes!

By Cait Cronin

​They say you can never truly understand another person until you walk a mile in his or her shoes. Perhaps the same can be said about running. On June 12th, 2016, as the capstone event for a 2-month-long fundraising campaign, roughly 60 of us set out to find out exactly that—by joining the Kim Dae Jung Peace Marathon in Seoul to raise awareness for North Korean human rights.
 
Every year, thousands of North Korean refugees travel upwards of 10,000km south to escape human and sex trafficking in China. This year, our team of runner-fundraisers for Running 4 Resettlement collectively raised over ₩12,500,000 (roughly USD$10,700), enough money to decrease the risks of this dangerous journey for 4 resettlers to South Korea. And in a sign of togetherness, each of us completed a 2k, 5k, 10k, or half-marathon along the Han River.
 
But preparations for Running 4 Resettlement set off long before the actual race. After a complete revamp of our website in January, the next step was recruitment. By reaching out to an extensive network of fellow English teachers and students and advertising through social media, by late May NKHR’s Rescue Team had gathered a diverse group of participants from across the country, including 14 from the Jeolla provinces and 11 from Gyeongsang. Many of us with personal experience volunteering for resettlers were driven to sign up by our changed perceptions of North Koreans, whose kindness and passion for life and learning we have fallen in love with. Others were simply motivated by empathy for a vulnerable population of fellow humans needing our help. But all of us spent months asking friends, family, and anyone who would listen for donations to our individually-created fundraising webpages.
 
As with any fundraising effort, and, fittingly, with any athletic activity as well, one of R4R 2016’s main challenges was maintaining momentum. Worryingly, leading up to race day, we were well under our financial goal. However, in one final, powerful push, R4R runners united to send emails, post Facebook statuses, text, Kakao message, and directly request more contributions. As a team, we were able to raise USD$3,905 in the last week! All told, 96 donors helped us match the same fundraising total as in 2014, Running 4 Resettlement’s inaugural year. It was a fitting end to a campaign well-run, and the only thing left to do was, well, run.
 
Starting at 8am on race day, our runners turned out in full force to support the cause. After a team photo and group stretches, we set off in waves to run through Gangnam. It was a morning of smiles, cheers, both participation and victory medals, and most of all, a sense of community.
 
Surely it is impossible for any of us to truly understand what it is like for North Koreans who face untold abuse and fear after leaving their homes, who then survive a harrowing trek and numerous hurdles of resettling in South Korea. But by raising money and awareness for these important people, runners for R4R 2016 came together to give them recognition as just that: people.

​On Saturday, March 5, Rescue Fund volunteers hosted a fundraising event at Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon.  At the door, attendees were invited to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win some amazing prizes from generous donors Zweiter Stock, Wink, Magpie Brewery, and Oak and Barley.
 
To kick-off the event, the Rescue Fund was honored to have North Korean resettler and art student, Chunguk, share his experiences and perspectives through an interactive Q&A session with the audience. 
 
Headlining the event was hypnotist Gabriel Dye, who enchanted the audience with his hypnosis expertise and advice for achieving success while using hypnotic techniques in everyday life.  Dye’s show was part comedy and part inspiration and fully entertaining.  We highly recommend attending one of Dye’s shows; the next one is scheduled for March 26.  You can find more information about the show at: https://www.facebook.com/seoulhypnosisshow/.
 
All told, the Rescue Fund raised 640,000won to use for refugee rescues!  We’d like to express our gratitude to all who came and donated funds, to Chunguk for speaking, Haegun for interpretation, Rocky Mountain Tavern, Gabriel Dye, Wink, Magpie Brewery, Oak and Barley, and Zweiter Stock. 
 
The Rescue Fund has a couple of upcoming events which they will be announcing soon, so please stay tuned for further opportunities to be a part of the Citizen Alliance for North Korean Human Rights’ life-changing work!

​What do you run for?
NKHR Rescue Fund and the Running for Resettlement Team at the Kim Dae Jung Peace Marathon
By Ahee Kim, NKHR Campaign Team Intern























​On July 12, 2015, the NKHR Rescue Fund and Running for Resettlement (R4R) Team ran the Kim Dae Jung Peace Marathon. Despite the stormy weather, Yeouido Park was crowded by 8:00 a.m. with dedicated runners. Our very own R4R runners included NKHR Director General Youngja Kim and North Korean resettler Sungju Lee.
 
The NKHR Rescue Fund and R4R Team was co-organized by NKHR Rescue Fund and Running 4 Resettlement.  Former NKHR campaign team intern Sohee Khim headed the team as the Chief Coordinator. All runners who signed up to run on the R4R team were asked to individually raise at least 250 USD to be donated the NKHR Rescue Fund and used to rescue North Korean refugees.  Nearly 90 people joined the R4R team, and together they raised over 17,000 USD for the Rescue Fund!  

It was an honor to see where every runner’s motivation came from. For some, it was because they wanted to participate in their “first marathon in South Korea,” while for others it was to participate in their “first rescue event for North Korean refugees.”  All of the runners were given a special R4R and NKHR race bib that said “Running for North Korean Refugees.”  It delivered a meaningful message that we ought to remember the North Korean refugees who are desperately running for their freedom.
 
Although the North Korean Refugees who are currently risking their lives to escape will not receive these messages, the R4R Team participants who ran through a storm with wet shoes and clothes helped save the lives of seven refugees.

The journey of North Korean refugees begins with sneaking across the Tumen or Aprok (Yalu) rivers to reach China under the watch of border guards. In China, they risk repatriation if caught by Chinese authorities, or being trafficked for labor, sex, or marriage if they meet untrustworthy brokers. They are not protected by law until they reach a safe third country such as Thailand. Reaching a third country can require them to cross a river, trek through jungle or desert, or hike over mountains. It costs approximately 2,500 USD to help one North Korean refugee get safely from China to South Korea.

For me, now is the time to run with North Korean refugees. The NKHR Rescue Fund and R4R ran with encouragement, hope, and love for one another. We will keep on running for North Korean refugees!

What do you run for?