 |
Waisenkinder
in einem Heim in Chongjin beim Mittagessen - bald auch hier mit Milch und
Joghurt ergänzt? (Quelle: Ocha) |
| Swiss school
donates profits from class play |
The Christian school SalZH
in Winterthur near Zurich recently decided to donate all the proceeds from
the performance of their class play to our agricultural project in North
Korea. What a surprise: Beatrice
Schild, a teacher at the SalZH Christian School (Salz = salt), recently
telephoned us to say that a special donation in the amount of CHF 1236.25
was on its way to us. When we asked where the money had come from,
she gave the following response: 
Beatrice Schild:
»After the Christmas
holidays, two students brought in a video about orphans in North Korea
along with information about the development aid project from Agape International
in North Korea. Shortly thereafter, I met Stefan Burckhardt, the
project leader.
We watched the video together
in class, and the kids decided that they also wanted to be involved somehow.
(Continued on p.2-3)
(From p. 1) First,
they thought about how they could earn money and decided to open a snack-bar
during recess times. They also published a school newspaper and sold
hand-painted stones. Next, the students persuaded the school directors
to donate all the proceeds from performances of the school play.
The grand total came to CHF 1236.25! Based on the project brochure,
the students calculated how many goats, cheese molds, etc. could be financed
with this amount of money. While the Burckhardt Family was in North
Korea, they were able to communicate with the students by e-mail and provide
answers to all their questions, which gave them a sense of direct involvement.
The class also prayed for the country, the government and the project workers
during this period. They even had the opportunity to meet the Burckhardts
personally before school ended for the summer break. 
 
enerosity
in action: The Burckhardts receive a special donation from the 3rd-6th
grade students |
North
Korea – Up Close and Personal
After five years of coordinating
the project from Switzerland, I was recently able to spend some time in-country
and experience firsthand what it means to live and work in North Korea.
Many things were difficult, even things that I remembered from my time
there six years ago. For example, communicating exclusively through
an interpreter, realizing that I do not (yet) understand most of the street
signs and billboards, that the city is nearly pitch black at night without
streetlights - and that you can see the stars so much better because of
it!- that you learn to take a shower whenever hot water comes out of the
tap, that everything takes longer than you are used to from home.
These are the challenging aspects, things that push me to my limit – and
beyond - again and again. The other aspect, however,
is the people with whom I lived and worked. It was truly a privilege
to have the same driver who worked with me for seven short weeks so many
years ago on my first visit to North Korea, and to see his genuine joy
over our reunion this time around. It is encouraging to see how the
various locations have developed and flourished after years of investment
of material, know-how and personal relationships. For the most part,
the progress is moderate and unspectacular, things that we take for granted
in Switzerland. However, these little things remind me that change
is a process made up of many small steps. This encourages me to keep
myself open for personal growth and change and to stay involved in North
Korea. Stefan Burckhardt,
Project Leader North
Korea |  |
Throughout its history,
North Korea has never had the opportunity to become acquainted with
democracy. This is an important point to remember when observing
their current totalitarian system in the light of European standards. » The thing that has
impressed me the most is the overall discipline and hard-working nature
of the people, who do all they can to produce food on every available square
meter of ground. When you have a chance to actually meet a North
Korean, they are friendly and helpful. You can laugh with them, and
within two or three weeks it is possible to discuss even the most personal
of topics. This country needs us desperately. Our absence and
ignorance will not stop things from continuing on the same course.
However, active help – combined with our genuine love for the people –
will touch their hearts.
On Friday, we had a meeting
with the head of the Department for Animal Husbandry within the Ministry
of Agriculture. After an extended time to express mutual thanks and
praise, Mr. Kim Jong Nam explained that the ministry intends to change
its strategy in working with us. 
Kim
Wol Zu and Kim Jong Nam in a Relaxed Atmosphere |
They would like us to limit
our work to ten locations and then expand our activities at those sites.
After reminding him of our
expertise as pioneers in starting new goat-breeding and milk-processing
locations, I also allowed for the possibility of accepting a new strategy
based on the meeting of certain requirements from our side. In order
to expand our activities at the suggested ten locations, they would have
to meet certain important prerequisites.
Now the real negotiations
could begin! At these types of meetings, only the highest ranking
workers from each side actually speak. For support, each man’s experts
sit at his side and whisper the important technical facts in his ear so
that no detail is overlooked.
After the meeting, we had
dinner together. Kim Jong Nam said he had never negotiated such a
complex agreement in such a pleasant and happy atmosphere. He wondered
how this was possible. Even the regional coordinator, Kim Wol Zu,
told me that he had never in his entire life experienced such a joyful
week as the one he had just spent with me!
These comments encouraged
me and showed me once again that Jesus Christ living in me can actually
create a new an positive atmosphere that our North Korean partners appreciate
because it is so different from what they are used to.
 | People Still
Living in Tents Two Months After the Devastating Explosion |
The international aid
on-site is generous – but it will still take time for things to return
to normal. Houses still lie in rubble, schools remain closed, etc. On April 22nd, many train
cars exploded following an accident in a railway shunting yard. Because
the explosion happened shortly before 12:00 noon, many children were injured
on their way home from school. UNICEF is now reporting that rebuilding
efforts have begun; however, most people are still living in tents, and
children are still unable to attend school. UNICEF’s goal is to restore
normalcy for the children by reopening schools as quickly as possible.
Many children are still traumatized and suffering. Despite offers
of help from various sources, being able to return to school on a regular
basis will be an important part of recovering from such difficult experiences.
As we wrote in the last
newsletter, we are not currently involved in Ryongchon as other organizations
with expertise in crisis aid are already working there.
Nevertheless, we will also
be able to install a new milk processing center in the same region – North
Pjongan – in the coming months. The yoghurt that is produced there
will go primarily to daycare centers, schools and hospitals and will be
an important supplement to their meals. We hope to be able to report
more details in the near future.
|
 Two
Girls in front of the Ruins of their School (UNICEF DPRK 2004). |
Location
of Ryong (www.reliefweb.int modifiziert). |
|
Over the last few months,
the selection of available products has increased and the government’s
distribution strategy has changed. It has been said that North Korea’s
economy is becoming more and more like our own, and now items are no longer
simply distributed, but must be bought.Even though the country remains
quite isolated, cracks in the wall are becoming visible. One and
a half years ago, mobile telephones became available. Openings, even
in small areas, always present a risk of becoming uncontrollable - certainly
a new situation for this country.
Just recently, even this
slight convenience came to an end as the local media reported that all
cell phones must be turned in immediately. It would have been a great
relief for our North Korean Project office to be able to communicate directly
with our workers at the various locations. Change is a process of
small steps. A process that requires time – and patience. |
 Young
Korean Girls are Quite Pretty! |
|
 After
his sabbatical and running the office in Zurich while the Burckhardts were
in North Korea, Jürg Bühlmann has now moved on to another job
outside of Campus for Christus.
We would like to thank him
once again for his involvement in the project and wish him God’s richest
blessings for his future!
Marie-Anne Bühlmann
will continue to work in the office in Zurich, so you will still have the
chance to speak with her on the telephone or receive letters with her signature.
Stefan Burckhardt plans to
return to North Korea in September. In the meantime, he will continue
to lead and coordinate the project from our office in Switzerland.
In order for him to be able to spend more time in Pyongyang, a local project
coordinator who will „hold down the fort“ in Zurich is absolutely necessary.
Experience has shown that it is vitally important to have a coordinator
in-country during the entire agricultural season. At this time, our
cheese-making expert and agronomist are responsible for so many administrative
tasks, that they are often hindered from doing their primary jobs.
So we are looking for someone to help with the work behind the scenes from
our Swiss office.
Support the project financially:
New
Online
donations More information you can
find in the earlier project updates.
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