Legacy of the Famine

During the height of the famine in 1996 to 1999,  millions of  North Koreans died of malnutrition.  As a result, many of the children became orphans.  The current situation is not much better.  Many are simply unable to take care of their children, thus, many families give up their children to the government.  These children more often than not suffer from malnutrition as well as emotional stress and physical illness.

Providing Hope

WMM has been providing food and clothing to thousands of North Korean children since 1998.  Currently WMM cares for 300-350 children, from 1-week to 3 years of age, in the city of  Sariwon.

Local officials have specifically invited the humanitarian committee to assist this orphanage with provisions of food (rice, noodles, bread and milk), clothing (including diapers), and shelter (heating, building renovations etc). The orphanage has a North Korean Director of Operations and North Korean staff providing the daily needs of the children but WMM has a unique opportunity to directly impact the lives of these little ones.

Main Goals:

• Open up as many orphanages as possible throughout North Korea;
• Provide each child with food, clothing, and adequate shelter;
• Give each child hope for the future.

WMM’s progress and outcome are measured by direct observation of the children’s health and well-being, verification of supplies being delivered, and the number of new orphans admitted on a quarterly basis.

WAYS TO GIVE

“Adopt” a Child: Each child needs just $10 a month to provide for his/her basic needs or donate $120 to provide for one child for one year. Supplies such as milk formula, medicine, antibiotics, vitamins, anti-fungal ointments, steroid cream, diapers, seasonal clothing, etc. are desperately needed on an ongoing basis.

Feed the Children: This year, a bad harvest means that all North Korean citizens are bracing for a long, hungry winter. The particular needs of the orphans are basic: infant formula, rice cereal, powdered milk, baby food, healthy snacks, rice, and flour. Please help meet the nutritional needs of these little ones. Your generous donation of $30/month can keep bellies full so that the children can focus on what’s important: play.

Bundle Them Up: Winters in North Korea can be deadly. Temperatures on average dip below -18°C (0°F) and frigid winds that blow in from Manchuria and Siberia mean that items such as blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, and briquettes are essential to survival. Please give the gift of warmth this winter. A $20 donation during the months of November to February will help keep the orphans cozy and comfortable this season.

Make It Better: Along with the winter cold comes ailments such as pneumonia. Medical conditions constantly plague the children but a lack of medicines as well as medical treatments means that they can die from the common cold. In fact, there are separate rooms for the dying where children are left to slowly deteriorate, simply because there is an acute shortage of antibiotics, drugs to treat tuberculosis, nutritional supplements, etc.

Your donation can give a sick child a fighting chance. Containers full of lifesaving drugs are ready to be shipped to North Korea but are sitting in warehouses due to the lack of funds for shipping. One 40ft. container costs approximately $6000 to be sent from Long Beach, California to North Korea. Taking action today can mean a chance at life for a dying orphan.

Give Them a Home: Ideally the orphans would be in a home-like setting. The reality is that they have plastic sheeting for windows, dingy laminate flooring, inadequate kitchen facilities, no running water, and often leaky roofs. There is a constant need for repair and renovations to the orphanage. Your contribution will ensure that these repairs will be made before the children get sick from exposure to the cold.

Send Them to School: Once the orphans leave the baby home they are sent to a children’s center. When they are ready for school, they will need $3/month to pay for their lunches. But even children with parents have difficulty coming up with the funds for their school lunches. Therefore, WMM has partnered with a local group that will help North Korean students pay their lunch money so that they can resume their studies once again. Please ensure that the younger generation is educated so that they can lift their families out of poverty.

Wherever There’s a Need: A non-designated donation in any amount can be made to help address the many needs of the orphans and those who take care of them. WMM takes seriously our responsibility as stewards of your gift and thanks you for your trust.