Korean Church Coalition (KCC) for North Korea Freedom, a non-profit organization that has been actively advocating for human rights in North Korea since 2004, will be hosting a Summer Internship and Mission Conference from July 13 to 16.
This sixth annual event, which takes place in Washington, D.C., has two main purposes.
First, the KCC hopes to inform Korean Americans of the realities that North Koreans live in, and challenge them to embrace the Korean peninsula. Refugees and experts on North Korea human rights will be mentoring the interns during the event. Joseph Kim, whose story of growing up as a refugee orphan and becoming a college graduate was featured in TED Talk, will also be one of the mentors.
Second, KCC aims to call on Congress to pass the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act in order to place increased pressure on North Korea regarding their human rights violations, and to call on the U.S. administration to act on the North Korea Child Welfare Act, which became law in January of 2013.
Participants will be participating in a prayer vigil at Lafayette Park in front of the White House, and a walkathon on Pennsylvania Ave. on July 14, calling for the restoration of human rights in North Korea. On July 15, participants will rally at the West Lawn on Capitol Hill, and will visit Congressmen to tell of the human rights conditions in North Korea and to ask them to pass the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act. A prayer meeting for North Korea will also be taking place on the night of July 16 at Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville, VA.
"I believe that our cries that start in Washington, D.C. will be the hope that saves the North Korean people," said Reverend Peter Sohn, the president of KCC, encouraging an active participation from Korean Americans.
Students who are participating as interns for the first time will receive 100 hours of community service and the bronze level of the President's Volunteer Service Award. Those who participated previously would receive 250 or more hours of community service and would therefore receive the gold level of the President's Volunteer Service Award.
KCC has continuously worked to help refugees and those in North Korea since its establishment in 2004, and is known to have had a crucial role in the passing of the North Korean Human Rights Act. The organization also actively worked to ensure the passing of the North Korea Child Welfare Act.
For more information, visit www.kccnk.org.
