A Voice for Freedom: Empowering North Koreans

[Empowering North Korean Defectors to Change the World🎊]

Hello, my name is Eunhee Park, author of The Courage to Die.

Ten years ago, before I met FSI, I felt deeply ashamed of being a North Korean defector. According to a 2024 survey by the Korea Hana Foundation, 16.3% of North Korean defectors in South Korea have experienced societal discrimination or prejudice. I know this pain firsthand, as I was once denied employment simply because of where I was from. Because of that, I viewed my background as a flaw to be hidden.

However, everything changed when I met the dedicated volunteers at FSI. While I had experienced prejudice, through them I realized there were also countless people ready to love and support defectors without judgment.

It was then that I made a promise to myself:

"For the people who embraced me with love, I will study English hard and become a global speaker who shares not only the reality of North Korea but also the true value of the freedom I risked my life for at age 21."

A decade later, I am now an author who writes in English and a global speaker who travels the world to share the reality of North Korea, the precious value of our freedom, and what we must do to protect it.

Just as FSI’s support empowered me to find my voice, we now need your help to empower other North Korean defectors. Your donation is more than just a contribution—it is the spark that will create the next generation of global leaders and defectors who can share their stories with the world.

Please join me in helping North Korean defectors raise their voices and step into the light✨
Thank you for your warm generosity in advance<3

Thanks to a generous South Korean donor, Freedom Speakers International is running a Matching Challenge to empower North Korean refugees.

The Matching Donor has pledged $42,000 to FSI or $3,500 per month. The sooner we can hit the goal, the sooner we can get the money.

At FSI, we empower North Korean refugees through education and public speaking. Participants build English skills, develop confidence on stage, and learn how to present their own experiences with accuracy and dignity. Many now speak at universities, conferences, and public forums around the world. Some are publishing books, contributing to media discussions, and telling their stories in English for the first time.

This Matching Challenge allows every fundraiser created and every contribution made to have a greater impact. By starting or supporting a fundraiser, you help unlock additional matching funds that directly support mentoring, training sessions, speech preparation, and public events.

How can you join this?

* Become a monthly donor of any amount. 

* If you are already a monthly donor, you may switch your monthly donation to this fundraiser.

* Set up a fundraiser in support of this project.

Even if your fundraiser does not raise money, creating one still matters. Each new fundraiser increases visibility, expands our reach, and helps us unlock more support through the matching challenge.

Casey Lartigue Jr.
Co-founder and Chairman
Freedom Speakers International (FSI)