BACKGROUND
Through no fault of their own, North Koreans are born into a totalitarian society that attempts to brainwash them and keep them ignorant of the outside world.
The handful that successfully escape the country despite the risk of death and torture say the "second battle" is adjusting successfully to a world the North Korean regime tried to keep hidden from them.
When asked about the best way for them to adjust, refugees respond: JOBS! Becoming self-sufficient is the best way for North Korean refugees to adjust.
However, a number of factors, such as discrimination by South Koreans, lower job skills, limited English, and lack of social networks makes it difficult. North Korean refugees are much more likely to be unemployed, make much less than their South Korean peers, and higher suicide rates.
The Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center is launching the TNKR Employment and Education Project to prepare North Korean refugees for the world of work while improving their English language skills. North Korean refugees will study alongside mentors for at least 20 weeks.
INTERNS IN THE TNKR OFFICE
As part of this project, TNKR hopes to raise funds to cover salaries for North Korean refugees to intern in our office. For every 500,000 won (about $400), we will plan to have a North Korean refugee intern in our office at least twice a week until hopefully they find a full-time job.
EMPLOYERS
Are you interested in hiring North Korean refugees?
Our students are fast learners, eager for opportunities, learning new skills and studying English to be prepared to enter the global society. We would be delighted to add you to our employer database.
DONORS
Want to help, but aren't in Korea?
We hope that North Korean refugees participating in TNKR-EEP will be offered internships or job opportunities. For those who are offered unpaid internships so they can gain job skills, we hope to have a reserve scholarship fund to support some who might not have economic means to accept unpaid internships. Some who accept paid internships may also need help with covering some basic living costs.
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Contact TNKR co-founder Casey Lartigue at CJL@alumni.harvard.edu or TNKR@teachnorthkoreanrefugees.org
