For those interested in the promoting of North Korean human rights, Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) is competing for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi to aid the re-settling of North Korean refugees within the United States.  The North Korean Human Rights Act passed in 2004 allowed for the settling of North Korean refugees in the United States.  There are roughly about 100 North Koreans resettled in the US now.  We have all heard the stories of how North Korean refugees in South Korea are treated like second class citizens, well LiNK is hoping to use the grant money to help the North Korean refugees in the US not feel like second class citizens by receiving counseling, plus educational & job assistance to help restart their lives with.

Here is the overview LiNK gave to compete for the grant:

Given the urgent need for a resettlement center and assistance specifically designed for North Koreans in the U.S., LiNK seeks to establish Liberty House, a six-month to a year transitional housing program which will provide newly arriving and recently-arrived North Korean refugees with critical assistance such as food, clothing, shelter and medical attention as well as a safe, nurturing and positive environment and community; while providing other development services (job training, career counseling, obtaining citizenship, relocation support, etc).  Moreover, refugees will have the opportunity to learn about American values and culture as well as develop practical and vocational skills so that they can eventually lead self-sufficient lives.Deliverables:- Transitional shelter for 6-10 refugees within the first year.- $25,000 in donations from individual donors.- 60% of refugees in formal schooling or employment.- 2 partnerships with official resettlement agencies.

So this President’s Day take a couple minutes and please vote to help LiNK win the grant money.  When you click the link you can vote by either using Facebook or inputting your e-mail address with your name and date of birth.  Both ways are super easy. LiNK is currently ranked 5th and the top two finishers get the grant money.  LiNK is close to getting the grant and hopefully if every ROK Drop readers spends a couple of minutes voting we can help put them over the top.   Remember you can vote every day to add to LiNK’s vote total.  Thanks for reading and please vote.

Other K-bloggers supporting LiNK’s efforts:

• One Free Korea
• The Marmot’s Hole
• Kushibo