Learning Freedom: Help Educate North Korean Youth

NKHR conducts a number of adjustment programs aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and instilling confidence in young North Korean resettlers. Among these initiatives is the 1:1 mentorship program, which aids students in bridging educational gaps, particularly in the areas of English, Math, and Korean composition. These are the subjects causing the most difficulties for the North Korean students attending regular South Korean schools.

So far this year, the program has facilitated individualized sessions for 12 students who meet in the evenings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays each week.

The Education Team enlists the help of interns who have come from overseas to assist with English tutoring. We caught up with one such intern, Andrea, who spent three months interning with NKHR, and asked her about her experience tutoring North Korean resettler students:

“Of all of the programs and activities that I had a part in organizing or assisting with while working at NKHR, the experience that taught me and helped me grow the most was tutoring North Korean students.

The students had an amazing drive to learn and, 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 define your capacity to dream and to chase after those dreams.

I will never forget when, during one conversation with one bright student, I asked him what he wanted to do later on in life. Flashing a huge grin at me, he said, ‘Become a diplomat.’ Sharing the same dream as him, I can only hope that he will find success, in whatever way that should come.”

We also asked 'K', one of Andrea’s students, what he thought about their sessions, “It was interesting to speak English with the interns from overseas. At first, I was afraid to speak, because I knew I would say something grammatically incorrect, but my teacher Andrea kept encouraging me. The class was never boring; she always prepared games which really helped me focus. It was great and I had so much fun. I still need more practice, but I am no longer scared to speak English!”

Your donations amounted to U$ 150 until March and contributed to this program by helping us provide workbooks and warm dinner for the students. Thank you!