Our Charity Work
We believe that supporting the work of local non-government organisations (NGOs) has far-reaching impacts for those who need it most and provides a way to give something back to the Korean people. In the past we have worked alongside the Pyongyang branch of the Red Cross which works tirelessly to improve medical access, care, and facilities all over the country. The Red Cross were also instrumental in the response to the floods which affected thousands in the north of the country in 2016.
Going forward, in addition to our work with the Red Cross, we have chosen to partner with the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled (KFPD) for 2019. The KFPD was founded in 1988 and its mission statement is: “To represent and advocate the rights and interests of all the disabled people in the DPR Korea”. The KFPD works to achieve this by ensuring those with disabilities have equal access to social position, mental and physical rehabilitation and establishment of barrier-free environment through various support and advocacy activities, publications and propaganda campaigns.
You can read more about their work by visiting the organisation’s website: www.naenara.com.kp/en/order/kfpd
The KFPD is supported by the European Union Programme Support (EUPS) as well as a variety of foreign NGOs including the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Pyongyang Cooperation Office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), World Federation of the Deaf, the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Embassy of Poland, the Embassy of the Netherlands, and many other worthwhile organisations.
What does the KFPD do?
The charity works all over the DPRK and actively seeks to improve several fields related to disability including: Education, Capacity-building, Rehabilitation, Production of Prosthetic Limbs, Disaster Risk Reduction, Training, Assistance Devices amongst others. In 2016 alone, the KFPD provided 4,420 prosthetic limbs, printed 1500 braille books for schools in every province, provided thousands of assistance devices, and hosted several seminars and workshops aimed at educating officials and the wider public in creating barrier-free, inclusive environments for those with disabilities.
During the winter of 2018, the KFPD were also instrumental in facilitating the visit of the disabled athletes from the DPRK who travelled to the South to participate in the Winter Paralympics, a hugely symbolic and powerful event which united athletes from the north and south as well as the rest of the world.
The Korean Art Association of the Disabled, comprised of blind, deaf, and physically disabled artists and performers, toured the United Kingdom in the summer of 2017; you can find a sample of their performance here:
How can we help?
As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2016) the DPRK is taking steps towards safeguarding the rights of disabled persons and providing equality of access and opportunity. Of course, there is also much more that can be done.
One of the biggest problems disabled people face in the DPRK is ease-of-access. Many buildings and public facilities are not friendly for those with disabilities. This includes improving step-free access for those in wheelchairs and introducing new technology to schools, hospitals and other public spaces which are disability friendly.
The biggest project in the pipeline for 2019 is a sanatorium which will be constructed in Pyongyang, serving as a national rehabilitation hub for those with disabilities. Covering over 22,000 square metres, the planned sanatorium will be a multi-functional, barrier-free environment with modern rehabilitation facilities aimed at providing the best care and nurture. Alongside this, the KFPD plans to purchase specially adapted cars which will come equipped with modern assistance devices to ease the transport and mobility of those with disabilities.
Artist Impression
Where does my donation go?
100% goes directly to the charity. Furthermore, you can specify where you wish to direct your donation (education, rehabilitation, arts, logistics, training, etc.) and even travel to the KFPD Headquarters to meet face-to-face with the people you are supporting.
If you are interested in making a donation, or wish to find out more information, please contact us directly.
You can read more information about the work of the KFPD in the following PDF brochures:
Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled: Annual Report 2016
Central Committee of the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled
