Thursday, March 10, 2016

Common Questions Asked About Dongdaewon



How do we know the North Koreans don't misuse the money?
Eugene Bell send NO money to North Korea.  The money raised buys medicine.  Each patient has sputum samples taken to find out which drugs they are resistant to.  A drug program is then tailor made for that specific patient, giving them the drugs that they will best respond to.

How do we know that the patients get their medicine?
Dr Seung and Dr Linton checking off medication supplies
Eugene Bell run a strict monitoring program and insist on visiting each centre that they work with.  They look at all patient records.  Each centre gets a list of the supplies coming and all supplies are checked.  Each patient knows what they should get as well.  Each patient is tested every six months - if they do not take their medicine, they will not get well.  Additionally, each patient is photographed which helps identify patients and provides a visual record of how they are doing.  The fact that patients are graduating from the MDR program, cured of TB shows that they are getting their medicine.

Why don't we send clothing and other supplies?
There are limits to what things can go into North Korea.  The North Koreans can get clothing. However, medicine is in extremely short supply and this is what there is a desperate need for.

Why don't we treat regular TB patients when they are so much cheaper 
and we could help more people?
Since 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) has committed to providing DOTs meds for North Korea.  MDR is a growing concern.  The WHO have a plan to pick up 50 MDR patients over a five year period.  Eugene Bell currently have over 500 MDR patients on their books, with many more people desperate for treatment.  This is currently where the need is greatest.


Aren't We Violating UN Sanctions and going against the SK Government helping North Korea?
UN Sanctions have a carve out for humanitarian causes.  In recent sanctions imposed, the UN stated 
the new measures are not intended to have "adverse humanitarian consequences" for civilians, the majority of whom face economic hardships and food shortages.
Ceasing support of medicine for our TB patients at Dongdaewon would directly counter the intent of the UN resolution, as it would have adverse humanitarian consequences for civilians.  Currently the UN is spending a little over 100 million annually on humanitarian aid (South Korean UN Ambassador Oh Joon), including releasing an additional 8 million just last month (UNOCHA, 2016).

EBF work closely with the South Korean government (who issue their export permits for the medicine) and the North Korean Ministry of Health to make their program happen. 

Eugene Bell have enough money.  Why do we still support them?
At every center Eugene Bell visits, people appear out of nowhere, desperate to get on a MDR treatment program because they have failed DOTs treatment multiple times.  For every patient that EB accepts, they have to guarantee coverage of medicine for the life of treatment, which takes around 18 months.   This can cost around $USD5000 per patient.  It is heartbreaking to have to take some patients and leave others because there are not the resources to provide for medication.  MDR continues to grow and EB is one of the few organizations successfully working with this problem in North Korea.  The more resources they have, the more patients that can be treated.  Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing to leave a clinic knowing that you could help all those who needed it?!  






Music For Medicine


The talented musicians in KS3 and MS are hosting their annual "Music For Medicine" concert March 23rd at 3.30pm.  Don't miss the chance to hear some incredible young musicians play - this concert is always a treat!

Live on the MainStage - We Will Rock You!



"Inner Souls" is hosting a family- friendly concert as the rock band, Queen!  Come and listen to Queen's greatest hits LIVE in concert.  Hear Mr Ryan Kuhl (MS) on vocals as Freddie Mercury, Mr. Paul Sanderson (ES) on lead guitar as Brian May, Mrs. Ruth Sanderson (HS) on bass guitar as John Deacon and Mr. John Black (SW) on drums as Roger Taylor.


Tickets are 10, 000 won and are available from sectional offices or from members of the band.  All money raised will go towards the Dongdaewon TB clinic fund.

Check Out The Silent Auction

This year we have some absolute TREASURES in the silent auction!  Stop by and take a look in the coffee shop.  There is something for everyone.  And remember ... there are only 286 shopping days left until Christmas!!
Art



As always, we have some fantastic pieces of art (not very well photographed - apologies for the cafeteria light reflection).



Textiles


We have some stunning textiles this year.  Again we have some beautiful quilts on offer from the James family, some gorgeous hand made Fair Trade artisan Ethiopian textiles, and some absolutely awesome cozy up-cycled mittens made by MS Art Teacher Jo Thies.


Food
Food items are always a huge hit!  We have many offerings ... check them out!


Several different Roddick cakes (if you have not had one you haven't lived!) are up for bidding.


The Swanson brunches are always hotly sought after and this year, Dale is also offering his famous Swedish cardamon bread!  This author can vouch for its goodness!  They are also offering a fun evening of dips and sips.


For the coffee lovers, we have some hand delivered delicious Ethiopian coffee bought by former staff member Sara Schmidt, who is visiting from Ethiopia this week.

There are pancake breakfasts on offer as well ... get in there and get a bid in!

A handmade silver Ethiopian Cross
There are other wonderful treasures to be had as well, including jewelry, bamboo bowls, and some great services.  Stop by, check it out and place a bid!

Bidding closes 21st of March at 3pm.



Sunday, March 6, 2016

Spring 2015 North Korea Trip Report - Jo Bigwood

I had the privilege of going up to North Korea as the representative from Seoul Foreign School, with the Eugene Bell Foundation. Each year, our school has the opportunity to fundraise as part of our service component at school but also because it has been a long part of the history of SFS for North Korea. And of course they are our neighbors and for some -  our family. 


Since arriving at SFS, I have been part of the annual fundraising drive, selling t.shirts, food, participating in the fair, cooking schools, photography classes, swimathons, pantomimes, silent auctions, you name it we do it. Each year is different and apparently so are the biannual trips to North Korea, according to Father Gerard Hammond (a Catholic Priest, living in Korea and a regular delegate for Eugene Bell).

Each trip - although it has a fairly similar format,  a team (my case 15) meet for the first time at Gimpo, fly to Beijing. Overnights in Beijing whilst visas are processed, off to Pyongyang the next day hopefully with all 40 + bags intact and onboard. Arrive at hotel, meet hosts, rise the next day to check medicine has arrived by shipment, pack trucks and then the next 2 - 3 weeks are similar with visits off to each of the 12 clinics that Eugene Bell support, some as far as 4 - 5 hours away by van some 30 mins - 1 hr, admit new patients, weigh and track existing  patients and graduate patients after 18 months. Same routine but different, new faces, missing faces, healthier faces, graduating faces.

But for me, being my first time, everything was new. There were a lot of wow moments and connections which are not always easy to put into words … here are a couple of takeaways.

Small fish in a big pond …
I went with a certain amount of pride. I knew we worked hard every year to raise funds for the Eugene Bell foundation to purchase medicine and the fact that a person from SFS was able to go each year, made me think we were big fish. We contribute a lot ($55,000 - 70,000 annually, we must be one of their bigger donors). I hate to burst your bubble but NO, we are in fact a very small donor group. It costs $3 - 4 million US dollars to send up medicine twice a year.  We are small fish but in the bible ...
 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over. 
It’s not about how big or small the offering is, it is about the heart behind it. He will multiply what needs to be multiplied and we are a part of that. So we need to keep doing what we are doing and he will take care of the rest. We are one of the few donors that is made up mainly of a school community here in Seoul. I was humbled and felt honored, that we at SFS, can not only partner with Eugene Bell but that there is a space carved out for one of our SFS teachers to go each year. What a privilege. 

Ms Bigwood with some of our SFS graduating patients!  

Each year I watched the inspiring and heartfelt videos created by Sarah Carpenter and each year I would cry a little, and think I am doing my small part. I knew we were being agents of change, by bringing life through the medicine (if you haven’t watched any of the videos, check them out on this blog). I saw through the videos,  the patients we supported, I saw the places, I saw what life might be like but until you have been I am not sure you really SEE. I got to SEE lives, young and old, poor and rich. I got to SEE lives changed, young and old, poor and rich.  I got to SEE lives living! I got to SEE where all our hard work fundraising goes.  I got to SEE HOPE. And that was life changing and life living!



Was it hard work?- Yes!  Was it sad? - Yes. But through it all I got to see that here at SFS we are life changers. I realize that not all of us can go and SEE what life we are bringing through the medicine to the people in North Korea but hopefully through the eyes of some of our teachers that go, you will SEE that you bring: LIFE and HOPE.  Thank you for all that you do to help save a life. Keep going because there are people across the border that know you and thank you.

Paper crane garlands, made by SFS students, ready for patient graduation!

Thursday, March 3, 2016

ES Fair Update

Marketing their wares ...
A stroll over to the elementary school on Friday afternoon revealed an excited buzz in the building and a hot bed of student activity on all floors.  Student stalls were in full swing with eager store keepers selling their wares ... students (and teachers) trying their luck at various games ... parents helping out and people buying up a storm!

Fifth graders react as Mrs Hoskin knocks out cans in a game of skill!
The Dongdaewon fairs have been running for a few years now.  Originally conceived by the British School, they are an amazing experience for our students, as much of the activity is student driven.  Students conceive ideas, work on their stalls, organise shifts and get to shop up a storm!  It's a perfect afternoon for a great cause!

The tattoo bar is always a huge hit!
This year, the ES fair raised an incredible 7, 046, 390 won!  WOW.  This is an amazing effort ... and the incredible thing is that an afternoon of fun saves patient lives.  Thanks to all who helped support this years fair.  The British School fair is coming up on Tuesday 8th of March.  Check it out!

ES Students enjoying some of the treats on sale ...




Dongdaewon Swim Meet A Huge Success!

3 schools ...
120 swimmers ...
1, 5080, 000 raised.
AMAZING!



Recently our swim staff hosted a swim meet for Dongdaewon.    It was open to other schools and swimmers from YISS, GSIS and SFS attended.  Thanks to our wonderful volunteers and aquatics staff - you are changing lives!