The Seed of Hope Begins in Your Hands(Sharon)

Hello. I’m Sharon Jang, author of Girl with Black Makeup.

I was born in Aoji, North Korea, and lived 21 years without dreams or hope.

For three years, I toiled in the dark underground tunnels of the Aoji coal mines—a place people often joke about—enduring accidents and hard labor again and again.

But even in that painful reality, I couldn’t freely say even one simple phrase: “This is hard.”

I arrived in South Korea in search of freedom. But to me, Korean society was yet another unfamiliar and difficult journey.

Foreign words and English made me feel even smaller, and my confidence and self-esteem hit rock bottom.

Then one day, the warm support of Casey and Eunkoo, the co-founders of Freedom Speakers International (FSI), reached me. Their sincere encouragement planted a small, fragile seed of hope inside me.

That seed grew—and now here I am.
Someone who speaks to people around the world, nervously but confidently sharing her story in English.

All of this has changed my life in a positive direction.

But this journey was one I could never have walked alone.

And that’s why, now, your warm support is a great strength to North Korean refugees and to FSI, the group that supports them.

FSI helps North Korean refugees learn English and find their voices through public speaking and writing.

Yet there are still many obstacles in the way: language barriers, financial hardship, and social prejudice.

Your small act of giving can bring about big change. And your helping hand can give rise to another Sharon.

Please join me in this fundraising campaign, so that the voices once silenced can finally be heard.

A world where we can speak freely—it begins now, in your hands.

September 5th is the U.N.'s International Day of Charity and the birthday of FSI co-founder Casey Lartigue! 

For about two decades, I have celebrated September 5th as Casey’s Day of Charity. I reject gifts for myself and encourage people to donate the intended amount to my favorite cause or non-profit. That means, please support this birthday fundraiser for Freedom Speakers International.

A wonderful organization can benefit and I won’t have to figure out what to do with gifts such as dinosaur puzzles, suit ties, or other things I don’t need!

It is a US 501(c)3 tax deductible donation. 

Here's a birthday video by FSI staff with numerous North Korean refugees wishing Casey a happy birthday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55n2PeuK64&list=PLn7xtnmarHFr9v99a4urREm3DymgoVcKo&index=1