Program areas at LiNK
(see schedule o)rescue and resettlement support: once North koreans reach freedom, a new journey begins. Our team provides resettlement support, community, and access to resources to help North korean refugees succeed in their new lives. Humanitarian parole cases arrive in the u.s. Without status and are ineligible for the usual refugee resettlement benefits from the government. As a result, Link provided full fiscal sponsorship and support for case management, housing and financial assistance, interpretation and translation services, and coordinating legal needs to receive status. in 2023, the organization helped two North koreans escape and resettle in the united states through humanitarian parole (making for a total of five cases) and helped 29 North koreans make is safely to freedom. in the us, we provided support to more than 30 North koreans. in south Korea, we provided support to many North koreans and ended the year with many accomplishments and celebrations, including 9 marriages and 2 baby births. For more information on our rescue and resettlement support program accomplishments, visit https://lbrtynk.org/ar-2023-rr.
(see schedule o)changing the narrative on North Korea: while dictators and nuclear missiles command headlines about North Korea, they erase the real heart of the country its people. This is what the regime wants, to control the narrative both domestically and internationally. So, when North korean defectors share their authentic stories and perspectives, it's a powerful act of defiance and a crucial way to change perspectives on North Korea. Link amplifies North korean voices through online media, documentaries, and events, and empowers North koreans to take authorship over their own stories. in 2023, the organization reached over 10 million people online, executive produced and provided fiscal partnership for beyond utopia, and continued to be a go to resource for international media with 79 features, citations and collaborations. For more information on our changing the narrative program accomplishments, visit https://lbrtynk.org/ar-2023-ctn.
(see schedule o)capacity building: as North korean refugees resettle and begin navigating their new lives, many aspire to not only find success, but also work towards impacting this issue. With access to the tools they need, North koreans have unlimited potential. We work with them to build their capacity and confidence as leaders and agents of change. They're sharing their perspectives and stories with audiences around the world, changing the narrative, educating people, and mobilizing Global support. They're sending money and information back to their families in North Korea, helping to accelerate change from the bottom up. Most importantly, they're proving the potential of 25 million people inside North Korea still striving towards freedom and a better future. in 2023, the organization empowered 210 North koreans through our scholarships, english language, changemakers scholarship, workshops, and professional mentorship programs. For more information on our capacity building program accomplishments, visit https://lbrtynk.org/ar-2023-cb.
Labs: North korean defectors consistently say that increasing people's access to outside information is one of the most effective ways to accelerate change inside the country. Labs is our space to collaborate, innovate, and develop new initiatives to empower North korean people with information and technology from the outside world. Much of this work must remain highly confidential to be effective, but key areas of focus will include collaborating with external partners, including recent defectors who can share feedback, insights, and information on recent changes to the information landscape in North Korea; creating and curating content tailored for North koreans in-country; and developing new technologies or adapting existing ones for use in-country. in 2023, we co-hosted a summit of approximately 40 key players from around the world to discuss the latest trends in space. For more information on our labs program accomplishments, visit https://lbrtynk.org/ar-2023-labs.