redefining the north korea crisis through link … · redefining the north . korea crisis through...

REDEFINING THE NORTH KOREA CRISIS THROUGH CREATIVE STORYTELLING, WHILE PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES AND PURSUING AN END TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS

LiNKAnnual Report2010

2010 RecapPage 1

2010 Recap

Letter from the President

Tours

Nomads + Interns

Media

Chapters

Partners

The Crisis

Rescuing Refugees

Shelter + Processing

Letter from a Refugee

Resettlement

Stateless + Abandoned Children

Advocacy

Financials

A look into 2011

1

4

7

9

11

12

13

17

19

21

22

23

24

27

29

31


Page 5

Page 15

5

Redefining The North Korea CrisisPage 5

Providing Emergency ReliefPage 15

Pursuing An EndPage 25

The NumbersPage 29

JANUARY

Launched TheHundred Campaign to Chapters an aggressive fundraising campaign to rescue 100 refugees

Welcomed 12 Nomads to train for Spring National Tour

Purchased 4 vansto be used on National Tours and to get Nomads to and from screenings across the country

FEBRUARY

Rescue missions launched funded by TheHundred campaign

Rescue Mission 15 Refugees rescued

Launched Spring Tour reaching over 18,540 people

LiNK participated in Pepsi’s Refresh Project, placing 3rd, but ultimately not winning a grant

MARCH

Rescue Mission 2 2 Refugees rescued

7 Refugees resettled in South Korea

LiNK Senior Ambassador, Shin Dong-Hyuk presents at Human Rights Summit Geneva, Switzerland

LiNK reunites a refugee family that has been separated for over 4 years

APRIL

2 Refugees resettledin South Korea

LiNK’s President and Senior Ambassador testifiy at the European Parliament Brussels, Belgium

JUNE

Launched Summer Tour reaching over 4,862 people

Welcomed 2 staffto the team as Regional Managers

Welcomed 6 Nomads to train for Summer Tour

JULY


3 Refugees resettledin South Korea

LiNK leadership team meets with policy makers to hand-deliver constituents’ letters and discuss Legalize Adoption campaignWashington, D.C.

Westside Ministries in Turlock, CA raises funding to rescue 8 refugees

AUGUST


Welcomed 12 Nomads to train for Fall Tour

LiNK participated at NKHR Conference, presenting on US resettlement issuesToronto, Canada

LiNK sends a film team to Asia to gather footage to be used in our first full length documentary

SEPTEMBER


Launched Fall Tour reaching over 24,114 people

Rough Cut DocumentaryProduced

5 Refugees resettled1 Refugee in US is reunited with family4 Refugees resettled in South Korea

LiNK establishes new corporate partnership with Ford Motor Company

NOVEMBER

2 Refugees resettledin the US

Secured a 2 year grant from a private family foundationfor overhead expenses for 2011 - 2012

LiNK participates in partner Freedom and Fashion’s Annual Fashion Show, raising awareness about human rights

DECEMBER


Board of Advisors members are assembled

Every 9 LiVES donor receives a personal call by LiNK staff to thank them for their continued support

OCTOBER

Governing Board members are recruited

3 Refugees resettled in South Korea

Welcomed 2 Staffto the team as Protection Officers, our staff in the field

MAYA portion of the proceeds from Lisa & Laura Ling’s book, Somewhere Inside, are contributed to LiNK

2010 RECAP

LiNK 2010 Annual Report 1 | 2

After a valuable year of establishing critical infrastructures in 2009, we entered 2010 determined to bring additional growth to the organization and see deeper impact. We began the year in a frenzy and competed in the Pepsi Refresh Contest – relying on the votes of our supporters in the hopes of winning $250,000 for our resettlement programs. The results were astounding. Volunteers worked tirelessly to recruit voters while chapters and friends aggressively campaigned through social media to reach the online community. As our supporters, both young and old, went online to vote daily, we eventually climbed into the top five and watched a community of advocates come together. Although we ultimately were not awarded a prize, we were awed by the overwhelming response and extremely encouraged with how our support base had grown and mobilized on our behalf.

With this incredible base of supporters, we were able to further act on our commitment to help North Korean refugees and significantly increase our work in the field. This increase paid great dividends, and LiNK was able to support the education and other needs of over 80 children in China, rescue 22 North Koreans from hiding, protect and assist 26 refugees with their resettlement processing in our Southeast Asia shelter, and provide supplementary support for the new lives that were started in South Korea and the United States.

Our increased presence in the underground railroad has also contributed to the phenomenon of information flowing back into North Korea. While refugees provide much-needed insight to us about the realities inside the country, they also serve as a critical bridge of information to those still living in North Korea. This channel of dissemination piques ideas and truths that help the North Korean people break free of the information stranglehold the regime has utilized for decades to maintain control, and will increase pressures for change inside the country.

North Korean human rights violations are often overshadowed because of prevailing interests in security issues, which have hardly changed or improved in the last decade. In response, we have continued to work toward “redefining” the North Korea crisis, spreading awareness through creative media, including our first ever “rough cut” documentary that shared the stories of refugees in hiding. This production enabled us to reach many communities and schools on our national tours, and served as a valuable tool to advocate to the international community to press for a higher priority to be placed on the North Korean people.

It is vital for LiNK to continue to grow in response to the opportunities for change that we see within North Korea. Though many believe that the North Korea crisis is impossible to change, we are dedicated to our work and persevere with an unwavering belief that one day we will see liberty in North Korea.


LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hannah SongPresident / CEO

With this incredible base of

supporters, we were able to

further act on our commitment

to help North Korean refugees

and significantly increase our

work in the field.

SPRING TOURFebruary-May

12Nomads

230Screenings

18,540People Reached

$52,928Raised

45States

Every spring, summer, and fall, we send teams of nomads, or traveling representatives, to travel across North America and spread awareness about the North Korea human rights crisis and provide ways for individuals to get involved. Our teams collectively drove over 100,000 miles to visit local colleges, high schools, and other institutions, in order to mobilize a community of activists.

663Screenings

03 Tours

13Routes

34Nomads

2ProvincesCanada

2ProvincesCanada


$218,139Total Raised

TOURS


SUMMER TOURJune-July

10Nomads

100Screenings

4,862People Reached

$44,097Raised

24States

FALL TOURSeptember-December

12Nomads

333Screenings


$121,114Raised

45States

As a grassroots organization, LiNK is inherently built upon the collective efforts of individuals. Our nomads play a unique and integral role by building this face-to-face network on the ground. In the end, it is through our nomads that refugees’ stories are being told.

The road is not for the faint of heart. Our nomads, mostly college students or recent graduates and on a tight budget, are often met with the generosity of kind-hearted strangers, who feed and house them in each city they visit. During their 11 weeks on the road, they travel up to 13,000 miles each and book up to 100 events reaching thousands of people. They do all this with an unwavering commitment to their mission as nomads because they believe that their efforts will bring change to this crisis. The nomads have amplified the voices of the silenced by responding to a need, no matter the cost.

NOMADS

Meet a NomadStefan HutzfeldGermany

Hi! I’m Stefan from Germany. I got interested in LiNK a couple of years ago after watching a short clip titled “Life in North Korea” which a friend of mine posted on Facebook. After visiting LiNK’s Homepage and learning more about the crisis and their response to it I saw they are looking for volunteers to spread the word - nomads. The divided Koreas somehow always played a role in my life but this was the first time I had the opportunity to actually work on it and contribute something to it. Being on tour was exciting.

This was my first time in the USA, so I had my eyes wide open. The vastness of Northern America is crazy. Always being on the move was exhausting for me. But by meeting people who got inspired by the cause and our message and who showed so much empathy for the North Korean refugees, I gained strength and got reminded why I initially decided to become a Nomad. For me those people who deeply cared had the most impact on me: a High School teacher who wants to educate her students broadly and make them aware of issues in the world, letting them gather information and understand what some North Koreans are going through, High School students who, out of their own will, go around collecting spare change during lunch break, and especially the staff at LiNK HQ working crazy hours.

If asked whether to continue doing tours, if they are important or not, I would say visiting schools and so on gives the cause and LiNK a face. Person to person experiences and talks are priceless for a grassroots organization. Tour is important because the crisis is not over yet and we need to have far more people standing up for this cause.

34Nomads

17Interns

It is through our nomads that refugees’ stories are being told

Despite the dedication and hard work of our small full-time staff, we are only able to experience such incredible growth and impact as an organization thanks to the valuable contributions of our interns. LiNK interns have the opportunity to engage at various levels within the organization, working on numerous projects from surveying resettled refugees, researching new initiatives, creating educational curriculums, assisting with film production, communicating with our chapters, and even proposing new program ideas. Each intern class brings a crucial level of energy, excitement, passion and creativity to the staff, allowing us to maximize our resources and further our impact.


INTERNS

We are only able to experience such incredible growth and impact as an organization thanks to the valuable contributions of our interns

The ongoing crisis in North Korea is incredibly complex and multi-faceted. As a result, the issue has been known mostly among esoteric circles of academia and specialized fields of interests. Our mission is to broaden that scope through creative media and thus, spread awareness with stories that would otherwise be untold.

This past year, we produced 15 short films that ranged from stories about North Korean refugees who escaped through the underground out of hiding in China, to individuals who learned about the North Korea crisis for the first time. One of our most exciting endeavors included the production of our first rough-cut documentary ‘Hiding’. The film follows members of LiNK’s staff and a group of North Korean refugees traveling through the 3,500 mile “modern day underground railroad” in hopes of reaching freedom. Produced on a limited budged and a tight schedule, the film was completed in time to be screened on the Fall Tour, which would reach nearly 25,000 people.

MEDIA Stories have the ability to resonate across audiences in ways statistics simply cannot

15Short Films

01Rough CutDocumentary

126,188Online Video Views

100%Of the money raised by chapters funds refugee rescues

12Rescues funded by Chapters

$5,0002009

$30,0002010

500%Chapterrevenuegrowth

CHAPTERS

In 2010, 100% of the money raised by our chapters directly funded the rescues for 12 North Korean refugees through TheHundred campaign


Over100Chapters Worldwide

LiNK’s Chapters are an integral part of the organization and play a vital role in pushing our mission forward. They are dedicated groups of individuals who sacrifice their time, energy and resources to raise awareness and funds for our refugee programs. These Chapters ensure that LiNK’s presence is felt at each high school, college, and community long after our tours have left. In certain places around the world, LiNK Chapters sometimes represent one of the only voices on this issue.

With over 100 chapters worldwide, we were able to gather an unprecedented amount of support in 2010. Through creative fundraising events that ranged from pizza sales to computer game competitions, our chapters raised $30,000 in 2010. Chapters also hosted our LiNK Nomads during the spring and fall tours, and helped expose the North Korea issue to entirely new communities.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY In 2010, LiNK was chosen by Ford Motor Company, as one of three organizations to participate in their sponsored program called “The People’s Fleet”. Through their campaign’s endorsement, Ford’s objective with “The People’s Fleet” was to raise awareness of each organization with a more mainstream market. Ford provided LiNK with a 2010 Ford Fiesta, fuel stipend as well as a camera team to follow our activity. In doing so, eight short films relaying LiNK’s work were produced and later distributed on Ford’s website, various social networks and blogger communities. We saw enormous impact from this partnership, and are incredibly grateful for Ford’s initiative to bringing awareness to the North Korea crisis.

SWEET FACTORY / CINNAWORKS At the end of 2009, Fresh Enterprise partnered with LiNK to place donation change jars in Sweet Factory and Cinnaworks (franchisee of Cinnabon) retail stores across the country. Throughout 2010 we were extremely encouraged by the response we saw from consumers through the thousands of dollars raised by these change jars. We value the generosity of Fresh Enterprise and the opportunity to engage in a creative partnership.

PARTNERSThis past year we had an opportunity to develop a few unique corporate relationships that elevated the organization to a new level

Danny Lee, a North Korean refugee rescued in 2007, traveling in a vehicle loaned by the Ford Motor Company as he shares his story of hope.

Thanks!We would also like to thank all of our partners in 2010 who contributed their services and financial support, which allowed us to see our most successful year to date. As we move into 2011, we are thrilled and so grateful to continue working alongside our partners.

Our awareness efforts, combined with support from our partners, have helped the organization reach new audiences

24% Increase in search engine traffic

2009 Traffic

91,769 Hits

145 Countries

2010 Traffic

114,080Hits

156 Countries

2010 Social Media

21,172Facebook FollowersProfile + Cause page

126,188Online Video Views

30Countries Viewed Videos

13 | 14

LiNK’s Growing Web Traffic

North Koreans are fleeing across the border into neighboring China seeking food, medicine, money and freedom.

THE CRISIS

THE UNDERGROUNDChina & Southeast Asia

Leaving the country without permission is punishable by:

DETENTIONIMPRISONMENTTORTUREAND EVEN EXECUTION

As a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, China has international obligations to protect refugees. Despite this, the Chinese authorities actively seek out North Korean refugees and send them back, fully aware of the consequences they will face.

China

North Korea

An increasing proportion of North Korean defectors are women. They are particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to their illegal status in China.

China’s one child policy has created a severe gender imbalance and a dearth of marriageable women, driving the demand for North Korean women.

70-90%Of North Korean women are trafficked and coerced into marriages, jobs in the sex industry, and other forms of sexual exploitation

10,000 North Korean-Chinese‘stateless children’ estimated to be in China today. These children are not recognized by the Chinese Government, and thus have no access to education or any other basic civil rights

Over 30,000 North Korean refugees estimated to be hidingin China (30,000 - 50,000)

Between 1999-2001, 46% of the refugees arriving in South Korea were women. By 2010, that percentage increased to 76% (ROK Ministry of Unification)

1999-2001

2010

TRAFFICKING


REFUGEES

During a visit to China in 2009, it was evident there remained needs for North Korean refugees still in hiding; mothers with children, elderly grandparents, teenagers, and women who had been sold to Chinese men were all fearful of repatriation and desperate to leave, but were unable due to the insurmountable costs of escape.

Over the past decade, the Underground Railroad has served as a critical lifeline to freedom for thousands of North Korean refugees, but mainly for those who can afford the physical risks and the financial burden the journey entails. We have heard far too many stories of women who were misled and trafficked by brokers in lieu of payment; those who had to work in ‘karaoke bars’ and online sex chatrooms in order to make money for their escape; others who surrendered their government cash allowances upon resettlement to repay debts to their brokers. Others were exploited, raped or robbed on the precarious journey, as they had no choice but to entrust the brokers with their lives to bring them to safety.

North Korea

Rescue Journey

ChinaSouth Korea / Resettlement

North America / ResettlementSoutheast AsiaShelter Location

And while rescuing refugees is no simple undertaking, there needed to be a better way. We understood that we would be jeopardizing the very lives we vowed to save, as well as any future missions if our staff and partners in the underground were caught during any part of the journey. We wanted to provide an alternative - an opportunity for safe passage that would assist refugees and cover all the costs from start to finish. The journey would begin in China and end in Southeast Asia in our transition shelter where we offer comprehensive information, options, and guidance throughout the complicated process for resettlement.

We calculated that it would cost approximately $2,500, which would ensure that each refugee would never have to pay anything during the journey including food, shelter, transportation, government fines, processing

and other basic needs (medicine, feminine products, etc). The cost of each rescue is based on an average and may fluctuate due to changing costs on the ground for guides, transport, fines, security and other individual circumstances (such as medical needs, arrest, bail and bribes, etc). Any funds not used are rolled back into the rescue fund for future missions.

Over the past decade, the Underground Railroad has served as a critical lifeline to freedom for thousands of North Korean refugees, but mainly for those who can afford the physical risks and the financial burden the journey entails ... we wanted to provide an alternative - an opportunity for safe passage that would assist refugees and cover all the costs from start to finish.

In 2010, LiNK rescued 22 North Korean refugees; some had escaped to seek basic needs to survive while others escaped political or religious persecution. The cost of providing freedom was $51,817. It is incredible to think that this amount of money was all it took to change the lives of 22 individuals forever.

RESCUING REFUGEES

22Rescued North Korean refugeesin 2010

$2,355Was the average cost to bring each refugee to freedom

Basic Needs FoodClothingShoesToiletriesMedicineCommunication

Rescue FeesCosts for fines, fees, and the network of partners and staff in the underground to bring refugees to safety

TransportationCosts to transport refugees throughout the journey

AccommodationShelter for refugees and LiNK staff throughout the journey

Misc.EmergenciesTransfer feesSuppliesTolls

$20,72740%

$6,73613%

$13,47326%

$6,73613%

$4,1458%

$51,817Total rescue funds used in 2010


Upon entering our shelter, refugees receive a comprehensive orientation from our staff that outlines options for resettlement, including information about government assistance, benefits and challenges in both South Korea and the United States. Many refugees are usually unaware of the option to go to countries other than South Korea, while others often come with misinformation or misguided expectations.

Drawing upon the experiences and challenges of resettled refugees, we use such examples to set expectations, and when possible arrange a video-conference with resettled individuals to offer the refugees an opportunity to discuss the realities of settling in a new country.

This shelter offers temporary housing and protection to North Korean refugees awaiting processing to a third nation. LiNK Protection Officers cooperate with local entities to provide access to the refugees and to collaborate in providing the best care throughout the duration of this process. LiNK provides food, shelter, clothing, basic care and medical assistance, in addition to education, acculturation and practical skills training (such as going to the bank, creating budgets, computer skills, etc.)

26In 2010, we provided assistance and care to 26 refugees in our Southeast Asia shelter, who sought resettlement to various countries.

For refugees in ourshelter, LiNK provides:

FOOD

SHELTER

CLOTHING

BASIC CARE

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

In addition to:

EDUCATION

ACCULTURATION

PRACTICAL SKILLS

TRAINING

UNDERGROUND SHELTER & REFUGEE PROCESSING

In Southeast Asia, our transition shelter exists to assist in acculturating, preparing and processing refugees.

Dear Supporters,I am a North Korean refugee who has been receiving your support. I am writing this letter in gratitude on behalf of all the defectors that you have helped to resettle to America and South Korea.

With God’s blessing, I was able to come under the care of LiNK’s shelter. When I first came here, everything was new and intriguing in comparison to life in North Korea. I was shocked by the friendliness of the people I encountered at the shelter. After living voicelessly in a small and isolated country, I felt like I was thrown into an entirely different world. Honestly, at first I couldn’t have even imagined going to America, so I was a bit scared. From the first moment, however, I became very attached to this shelter and all the people I’ve met have given me strength and courage. I felt love and happiness for the first time here. Now that I have freedom, happiness seems to follow naturally.

In North Korea, I never smiled easily because life was so hard. There were so many that lived each day clinging onto life because death was so close. Even now, because of the lack of food, there are countless people dying of starvation as well as children who don’t have the strength to study at school. When I lived in North Korea, my family could barely afford to send me to school and I endured a lot of discrimination from teachers because I was poor. That was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever been through. In North Korea, if you don’t have money, no matter how smart or skilled you are, you will never succeed. So many talented North Koreans live without any hope, rotting away on the inside. I hated living in a country where I didn’t have any freedom or hope. In order to protect my life, I made it my goal to leave North Korea as soon as possible.

I am thankful to have met such amazing teachers here. I am very happy to the point where the harsh memories of North Korea are already fading from my mind. Getting in touch with this organization has made me smile everyday, and for that I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am looking forward to my future life in America very much and I have high hopes for what I want to achieve after resettlement. Life at this shelter has been very enjoyable and I am indebted to the teachers here for teaching us English and exercising with us, among other things. I am continuously learning so much here. I am truly grateful for the people who have worked hard to protect our safety. Even after I go to America, I will never forget the beautiful heart of the people who helped us and the joyful life that I had at this shelter.

Please pray for my safe reunion with my family in America and please continue to help more people like me. I have met so many good people here and been touched by so much grace. In return, I promise to work hard to become a better person everyday. God bless you with health and happiness.

With respect and love,

Anna

Letter from a North Korean refugee in LiNK’s shelter


US & SOUTH KOREA / Liberty House

Newly resettled refugees often find themselves overwhelmed by the abundance of choices and daily challenges in their new lives. There are unique emotional and psychological issues such as depression, trauma, isolation, guilt, and the loss of identity, which many North Korean refugees experience on varying levels.

We have sought to offer guidance, assistance and community (wherever possible), as many refugees struggle with loneliness as they settle in unfamiliar places, separated from their families and facing hardships alone.

Through a survey of LiNK’s resettled refugees, we discovered some of the recurring challenges they faced were a lack of knowledge about life in the United States; from cultural nuances to personal finances (budgeting, credit cards, loans and other payments, visiting and using a bank, etc.), the mailing system and the importance of maintaining a permanent address (to receive important bills, documents and notices), the insurance system (benefits, duration of services, how and where to receive

care), and how to practically apply the information they received. Other challenges included transportation, securing employment, paying rent and bills on time, and especially learning English, which was a major obstacle to finding jobs and attending school.

LiNK was also able to provide educational scholarships to 2 students in the US and 1 in South Korea; housing and financial assistance was provided to 4 refugees, as well as emergency medical assistance to an elderly woman; legal assistance through LiNK’s pro-bono partner was provided to help a family obtain asylum,

and also a client who had resettled in 2008 to bring her son from China and join her in America.

General case management (visits and check-ins) was provided to refugees in South Korea who had resettled through LiNK. Additionally, group gatherings were hosted throughout the year to offer community and for those who lived alone.

Danny, one of LiNK’s first resettled refugees in the US, was separated from his mother in 2006. She was arrested and imprisoned in China, but later was able to make it to South Korea. LiNK helped to arrange a reunion for Danny and his mother in California after 4 years of separation.

REFUGEESRESETTLED

19South Korea

03United States

RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE

In 2010, LiNK helped to safely

resettle 3 refugees to the US and

21 to South Korea – including 4

children accompanied by their

mothers, an elderly couple in their

70s, a woman who was 8 months

pregnant, and 2 individuals who

were reunited with their families.

North Korean / Chinese children affected by the crisis

Thousands of North Korean women have been trafficked or married in China but because of their illegal status, they are still at risk of being forcibly sent back to North Korea. Their children are deemed ‘stateless’ and given no formal recognition or legal rights by the Chinese government. There are estimated to be over 10,000 North Korean/Chinese “stateless children” in China today. Many of these children lack basic household documentation, known as “hukou”, because their fathers do not register them lest their North Korean mothers are exposed, arrested and eventually repatriated. The process for these children to obtain hukou is difficult and inconsistent with Chinese policy. Some have been able to “buy” fake hukou. Those without hukou have no formal identity, and thus no legal access to education or any other basic civil rights. For many mothers who have been repatriated or have gone on to seek asylum, their children are often left behind. Many are left in the care of incapable or uninterested fathers, most of whom are impoverished. Other children are abandoned or orphaned altogether.

LiNK’s work in China in 2010 focused on providing shelter, education and other basic needs to stateless and abandoned children. Working closely with our partner on the ground, we were able to support:

80+Basic scholarships tocover transportation to school and lunch for over 80 children

A group home for children who had been abandoned or did not have family able to care for them

Maintenance of a special study center for students to receive supplementary education and assistance to learn languages and computer skills

Creation of a “mobile library” for children in rural areas to access books and other reading materials

Funding to help secure identification papers when possible

STATELESS& ABANDONED CHILDREN


ADVOCACY

In 2010, LiNK worked in conjunction with organizations and governments around the world to advocate for policies and share ideas that would bring change to North Korea.

2,000Hand-written letters

150Congressional offices visited

LiNK’s Advocacy partnerships:

Refugee Council USA | RCUSARCUSA advocates on issues affecting the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons, victims of trafficking and victims of torture in the United States and around the world. As a member of this coalition again in 2010, LiNK was able to advocate more effectively to the United States government and other international bodies on behalf of North Korean refugees and policies specifically related to their processing and resettlement.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles | LAFLAThrough our partnership with LAFLA in 2010, LiNK was able to refer pro-bono legal services (in-language) for our clients who had resettled in the United States, ranging from legal advice, refugee travel documents, green card/citizenship applications, family reunions and more.

European ParliamentBrussels, Belgium

In April 2010, LiNK’s then Senior Ambassador, Shin Dong-Hyuk and LiNK’s president, Hannah Song, were invited to Brussels, Belgium to speak at the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament during their “Exchange of Views on Human Rights in North Korea.” Alongside the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights, Ambassador Robert King, and a representative from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, LiNK spoke on issues concerning human rights violations and the prison camp system in North Korea.

“I want to tell you that people who escape North Korea are not human trash like the North Korean Government says. They are simply escaping because they are scared of dying from hunger, and are longing for freedom. We are not human trash or human filth like the North Korean Government says. ”

Shin Dong-HyukAt the European Parliament Hearing in April 2010

Shortly after, The European Parliament’s Resolution on North Korea was passed, calling on North Korea to “put an immediate end to the ongoing grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations… and to release political prisoners.”

Geneva Summit for Human Rights Geneva, Switzerland

In March, LiNK participated in the second annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy, organized by an international coalition of 25 human rights NGOs. Various diplomats and approximately 400 human rights defenders and activists from 67 countries gathered to share their personal experiences and advocacy strategies. LiNK’s then Senior Ambassador, Shin Dong-Hyuk, was invited to speak on a panel with fellow dissidents. Speakers from Iran, Cuba, Burma, Sudan, and others were also represented.

10th International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees Toronto, Canada

In August, Seoul-based Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights co-hosted this annual conference with Toronto-based HanVoice. The topics presented and discussed focused primarily on the experiences of North Korean refugees in transit. LiNK was invited to speak on a panel regarding resettlement challenges for North Korean refugees in the United States.

Lobby DayWashington, D.C.

During our spring national tour, letters were written and collected to support the North Korean Adoption Act of 2010 – a United States Congressional bill that would call for a strategy for assisting stateless and orphaned North Korean children and allow eligible children to be adopted in the United States. Over 2,000 letters were collected and were hand-delivered to more than 150 offices within the Senate and House. Representatives of LiNK also met with members of Congress to seek co-sponsors for the bill and to discuss the legislation. Unfortunately, due to the competing priority of other domestic issues facing Congress, the bill died in committee later that year.


2008 - 2010 GROWTH2010 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

TOTAL REVENUE

$742,916TOTAL EXPENSES

$669,260Revenue Less Expenses

$73,6562008 Revenue

$335,8612009 Revenue

$695,4942010 Revenue

$742,961

Revenue

One time donations

Recurring donations

Chapters

Tours

Grants

Total Revenue

6%

20%

4%

29%

2%

38%

$47,490

$145,165

$30,000

$218,139

$286,000

$742,916

Total Operational Expenses$377,121Operational Expenses includes salaries and benefits, insurance, legal, professional and occupancy expenses

Operational expensescovered by grants

$286,000

76%Of operational expenses covered by specific grants provided by a family foundation. Funds from these grantsare restricted to operational expenses

Operational expenses covered by individual donations

$91,121

24%Of operational expenses covered through individual donations

47,516People reached on toursee page 7

22Refugees rescuedsee page 20

5MinorsAges between 18 months and 15 years old

3 of the youngest children were with their mothers

8MaleIncluding children

14FemaleIncluding children

80+Stateless and abandoned children supported with educational and basic needs see page 24

Numbers can not show how lives are changed. Please refer to the previous pages to seehow we are saving and changing lives forever.

26Refugees resettledsee page 23

24%

76%

Expenses

Salaries

Refugee Rescues

Southeast Asia

China

Liberty House

Awareness

Media

Tour

Other General and Administrative

Total Expenses

42%

8%

5%

3%

2%

9%

1%

16%

14%

$283,372

$51,817

$34,810

$18,255

$10,559

$9,419

$106,190

$93,749

$669,260

2010 IMPACT

How is your donation spent?

PROGRAMS OPERATIONS

One time donations 1

1%

Recurring donations 2

0%

Chapters 4%

Tour 29%

Online Store 2%

Grants 34%

14%Of general donations went to operational expenses in 2010

86%Of general donations went directly to programs in 2010

100%Of donations to TheHundred campaign went directly to rescuing refugees

Rescuing Refugees Southeast Asia / China / Liberty House / Awareness / Media / Tour Operations

Rescuing refugees

$51,817

Program expenses covered by individual donationsIncluding rescuing refugees

$292,139

Operational expencescovered by individual donations

$91,121


$742,916

Rescuing Refugees

Through TheHundred campaign, we identified a price for freedom and you responded by helping us put names and faces to the numbers being rescued. With 22 refugees already rescued in 2010, we hope to continue in 2011 with as many rescues as possible – bringing us closer to completing TheHundred. Our goal is also to fundraise and secure the remaining funding needed ($195,000) to complete these rescues.

A LOOK INTO 2011

In 2011, we want to maximize our human potential and encourage each person to become a powerful voice for this cause within his or her sphere of influence

Personal Fundraising

We have seen that when a lot of people give a little, together we are able to have a tremendous impact. In 2011, we want to maximize our human potential and encourage each person to become a powerful voice for this cause within his/her sphere of influence. Our supporters will finally have the chance to launch their own personal fundraising pages to raise funds that will go directly toward our refugee programs. We can’t wait to see the walk-a-thons, donated birthdays, car washes, and other creative fundraising campaigns!

Chapter Incentives

Chapter winners from our 2010 competition won a trip to visit LiNK HQ in Los Angeles, California. To take it to the next level, we decided to raise the stakes for our 2011 competition. The winning Chapters will earn a trip to South Korea to meet some of the refugees they have helped and also visit the border with North Korea at the DMZ, allowing our support base to be more engaged in the effort to end the crisis.

First Full-Length Documentary

As LiNK continues to redefine the North Korea crisis, we believe that creating films that educate and inspire plays a pivotal role in engaging viewers to do more. In 2011 we will produce our first full-length documentary that will offer a comprehensive overview of the North Korea crisis, while highlighting the stories of North Korean refugees.


LiNK | Liberty in North Korea

Redefining the North Korea crisis through creative storytelling, while providing emergency relief to North Korean refugees and pursuing an end to the human rights crisis.

LiNK | Liberty in North Korea is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Los Angeles, CA. All contributions are tax-deductible.

There are three ways to donate to LiNK

CheckChecks can be made out to LiNK and sent to our office. Address can be found below.

Credit CardPlease go to www.linkglobal.org/donate.

Wire TransferPlease call our office and speak to Andy for details.

Contact Us

1751 Torrance Blvd, STE LTorrance, CA 90501

www.linkglobal.org

310-212-7190

[email protected]

Twitter: @linkglobal

redefining the north korea crisis through link … · redefining the north . korea crisis through...

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