We've Moved Donation Platforms!

Kindful logo derived from Google Images*

IGNIS Community has moved donation platforms and for all of our valuable recurring donors, we ask that you sign up with us again to schedule your donations!

You can do so here and click on recurring. If you’d like to set up an account to keep track of all your giving, please be sure to sign up and confirm your email!

For all questions, please email give@igniscommunity.org

We thank all of our donors for their cooperation and giving hearts!

Some other updates include changes to our website. We have added FAQ, Privacy Policy and Security Guidelines for all of our donors needs.

Updated OFAC Sanctions (Aug 2023)

 

Renewed OFAC License 2023

With respect to the UN sanctions, we submitted an application to the UN Sanctions Exemption Committee for an exemption to ship medical equipment and other related items for the Pyongyang Spine Rehabilitation Center (PYSRC) into North Korea. This application to ship medical equipment has been granted on August 24, 2023.

IGNIS Community have actively pursued interpretive guidance and counsel to adhere to the U.S. government as well as International laws and regulations. See our compliance page to learn more how IGNIS best effort to be transparent in all of our activities.

 

Discovering Joy & Other Updates

The third series of Discovering Joy has aired on Youtube hosted by our co-founder, Joy Yoon. In this season, Joy continues to provide educational teachings for children and families with disabilities. This season specifically covers “Nutrition and Development”. The purposes of these series explain what we eat is so important. In fact, our health depends on it! Similar to the other series, these episodes are specifically designed to address the needs of children with ADHD, ASD, and other developmental disorders. Our hope with IGNIS Community is that through these series, many children and families would be encouraged and make a joyful difference in their daily lives. The episodes are in Korean however English subtitles are available!

Latest Episode of Discovering Joy

Summer time is here and it is getting busy for us at IGNIS Community. As many doors have opened up, we are currently preparing to bring lots of aid and support into the DPRK. We continue to ask for your support throughout the process. If you have any questions or wonder how you can support us, you can always visit our website and read about all of our projects. Another way is you can contact us by emailing info@igniscommunity.org

IGNIS Community Receives Multi-Entry Special Validation Passports

Article derived from Joy Ellen Yoon’s blog

More than three years have passed since North Korea closed its borders at the end of January 2020. North Korea’s borders have remained closed throughout the COVID pandemic, with only select shipments recently able to go into North Korea. Therefore, the last time IGNIS Community was able to travel into North Korea was in December 2019.

Border closings due to the COVID pandemic plus five years of global sanctions have taken their toll on everyday life in North Korea. Scalpels, needles, and basic medical equipment are in low supply. Women struggle to support their families as textile factories have closed and work has come to a halt. Most humanitarian organizations have pulled out of the country, resulting in approximately 41% of children throughout the nation being left vulnerable to malnutrition. 

As a result, IGNIS Community applied for Special Validation Passports (SVP) to re-enter North Korea for both the medical and humanitarian teams on March 6, 2023. IGNIS Community pre-applied to be ready and prepared to enter North Korea as soon as borders re-open and respond to humanitarian needs on the ground, specifically to provide needs for children five-years old and younger as well as for children with developmental disabilities.

On March 21st, IGNIS Community’s medical team consisting of four team members received approval letters from the U.S. State Department granting SVPs. Then on March 30th, IGNIS’ humanitarian team consisting of four other team members also received their SVP approvals

Humanitarian organizations can now apply for multiple-entry Special Validation Passports to North Korea

Prior to the COVID pandemic, IGNIS Community had obtained approximately 20 SVPs, but each of these SV Passports were only good for one single-entry into North Korea. The U.S.’s travel ban significantly impacted our organizations’ ability to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Humanitarian workers were required to apply for and obtain Special Validation Passports (SVP) from the Department of State for each trip in order to travel to and from the country. From IGNIS Community’s experience, the process took an average of 30 to 60 days, and in the end, humanitarian workers are only approved for SVPs approximately 76% of the time.

However, this time the U.S. State Department issued multi-entry SVPs, which are good for multiple trips in and out of North Korea throughout one whole year. The application process time was also significantly reduced. It only took IGNIS Community around two to three weeks to receive a response from the U.S. State Department.

Any humanitarian organization that cites compelling humanitarian needs for visiting North Korea multiple times and provides each trips’ itinerary may qualify for multiple-entry SVPs. These multi-entry SVPs greatly enhance the effectiveness of providing humanitarian aid. Being able to travel to North Korea multiple times within one year will enable humanitarian organizations’ to properly assess and address needs on the ground in a timely fashion. It also removes unnecessary red tape and paperwork each time an organization travel to the DPRK. Most importantly, by permitting charitable organizations the ability to respond to time-sensitive urgent needs, the lives of ordinary North Koreans can be saved.

Train tracks into Sinuiju, North Korea

It is likely that IGNIS Community may be able to return to North Korea within the year. Already the Chinese ambassador has returned to Pyongyang after nearly three years. Along with nine other Chinese diplomats, Ambassador Wang Yajun crossed the border at Sinuiju and returned to his post on Monday, March 27th. He is the first diplomat to return to North Korea since March 2020. With the Chinese ambassador in his new position, it is anticipated that the DPRK border may re-open and flights from China into North Korea may possibly resume within the next few months.

What’s Motivating North Korea?

Article derived from Joy Yoon’s blog

North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang

Every time I hear a discussion on North Korea’s nuclear program I rarely hear any mention of the Korean War. In fact, many Americans are not aware of the fact that the U.S. is still technically at war with North Korea. According to a recent poll conducted by American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 40% of Americans incorrectly believe that the Korean War has ended. 28% of those surveyed were unsure about the facts of the Korean War.

However, despite the general public’s lack of knowledge, the poll indicates that U.S. citizens’ attitude towards North Korea is changing. 68% of the U.S. public thinks that the U.S. president should hold talks with the North Korean leader. Slightly more than half of the U.S. public (52%) agree that the U.S. government should sign a peace agreement to end the Korean War.

If the Korean War ended, what would this mean for North Korea’s nuclear program? Obviously, that is yet to be seen, so it is impossible to say. But if defense and trauma from the Korean War are a motivating factor for North Korea to develop nuclear weapons, a peace treaty could only improve relations between the U.S. and North Korea.   

One thing is clear. Sanctions are not stopping North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. The only people impacted by sanctions are the common people of North Korea as well as the humanitarian organizations trying to help them.

Interestingly, AFSC’s poll also found that about 54% of the U.S. public agrees that humanitarian workers from privately-funded charities should be allowed to travel to North Korea without restrictions from the U.S. government, and 56% agreed that the U.S. should allow faith-based organizations to conduct people-to-people exchanges in North Korea.

As AFSC’s Program Director, Jennifer Deibert, stated, “It is time to rethink the use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool and no longer accept the devastating consequences of broad-based sanctions.” After all, sanctions are not having the intended impact for which they were designed.

Chuseok in North Korea

*Article derived from Joy Yoon’s blog

September 10, 2022 was the Korean Harvest Festival, otherwise known as Chuseok. Chuseok is a time for Korean families to gather together, pay respects to their ancestors, and enjoy a festive time of eating and drinking. Women wake up at dawn to prepare delicacies including Korean pancakes and rice cakes for the ancestral table to then later be enjoyed by the entire family.

Songpyeon, a traditional Korean rice cake

From our ten years of living in North Korea, one particular Chuseok stands out to me. That year the holiday landed on a Sunday. As was our weekly custom, our family walked to Bong-Su Church to participate in congregational worship Sunday morning.

We arrived at church to be greeted by the senior pastor. As he ushered us into the sanctuary, we noticed a stark difference from other Sundays. The entire building was empty. We were the only ones that week who showed up to observe the Sabbath.

On any other typical Sunday, Bong-Su church was attended by a few hundred congregants. Women and men in their forties, fifties, and sixties made up most of the congregation. It was uncommon to see young adults or children at church. Only once did I see a child, and the preschool boy who attended was obviously a grandson of one of the congregants.

Despite most of the Korean church members boasting middle-age or above, there were a few young adult singers in the choir. Both official State churches in Pyongyang have proficiently performing choirs. Perhaps this is an allowed exception because musicians are more free to serve in church, whereas most other young adults in North Korea have demanding full-time jobs requiring their services on the weekend.

As we walked down the aisle of the church and sat in the empty pews, the pastor explained to us that everyone had gone to the mountainside to pay respects to their ancestors. There would be no regular Sunday service that day. In light of this, though, the pastor graciously allowed us to stay for as long as we desired for a quiet time of reflection and prayer.

On the walk home, it was close to noon and families were congregating outside. On the sides of the road, the riverside park, and every green spot of grass, the city was full of picnicking families.

Initially, communism put a halt to celebrating Chuseok in North Korea. Because ancestral worship is considered a religious practice from Confucianist tradition, the atheistic nation did not encourage their people to pay their respects.

But around 1980, North Korea reinstated the holiday. This was to preserve their traditional roots within Korean culture. Today North Koreans are given one-day off from work to celebrate the Harvest Festival.

Those families unable to travel to the mountainside along with those who possess urns of their loved ones gather outside in the refreshing early fall weather. Throughout our 20-minute walk home, we could see entire families from grandparents to grandchildren line up and bow before the framed pictures of their ancestors. Ceremonial bowing was followed by the family circling over deliciously prepared lunchboxes.

Traditional Chuseok Delicacies

This custom is similar in South Korea. Typically, South Koreans receive a longer three-day holiday to travel to their hometown, gather with family, and visit the graves of their ancestors. Some of the foods and customs of Chuseok ceremonies differ, and South Koreans typically do not picnic outside but rather gather at the gravesite or in homes. But the fundamental holiday is the same.

Over the past 70 plus years, North and South Korea’s cultures, languages, and way of life have diverged. But one thing is clear. They both are still very much Korean. Despite some drastic differences, North and South Korea remain more alike than different. Koreans are the same people on both sides of the border, and the way they celebrate Chuseok is one evidence of that fact.  

A Little Update from Ignis Community

It’s been a long time since we’ve posted on our blog however we have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes trying to get things moving within and outside of Ignis Community. Here are some updates from our teams:

Even though the borders are still closed in North Korea, Ignis Community has provided 15 tons of rice and 300 tons of coal every month to kindergartens and daycare facilities in the northeast region. Jubilee Project is a special Ignis Community project headed by the humanitarian team (Planting Seeds). The purpose of this project is to provide extra support for the children of the DPRK during the ongoing pandemic. For more information, please contact info@igniscommunity.org

Within our shoe team, border closings have put a temporary halt to the shoe donation project. However, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and currently awaiting on some updates We hope to share that news with you very soon! Please pray for not only the provision of shoes for children in North Korea but also for daily provisions for those manufacturing them.

Joy Yoon, co-founder of Ignis Community, launched her Youtube channel providing support and education to families who have children with developmental needs. You can find these videos at the link below. Please comment, like, subscribe and most importantly share to those who are in need of support. We have received good feedback from many parents saying that it gives them courage, support and encouragement as they navigate life with their children with special needs. Last week’s episode, Joy shares about the importance of meeting the needs that are right for our child. Click CC for english subtitles!

June 2021 Update

It is already the month of June and we are heading into the hot summer, if not already. It’s ironic how during the summer time, Ignis Community staff and fieldworkers are constantly thinking about the cold winters the children would be facing in the next couple of months. Like a parent, we worry and think about the little faces we once saw in person. It’s as if we can feel the harsh winter breeze hit our faces as we anticipate providing humanitarian aid to the children and people of North Korea. It has been over a year since Covid-19 hit and North Korea’s borders are still closed. Yes, it has been disheartening for us and we are still waiting to hear good news. Thankfully, as mentioned before, we still have counterparts who are working endlessly to provide care at the hospitals. Ignis Community always strives to do more but when there are limitations, sometimes we have to take a step back, be hopeful and move forward in planning for the future.

Regardless of what is happening, Ignis Community has partners all around the world who are working hard for the organization. There are so many other things that Ignis Community offers and we are so proud of our teams.

We just wanted to thank all of our supporters who have supported us regardless of the situation. We do have other things in store in regards to providing care and aid to North Korea. There are also many things scheduled this summer and all the events will be available virtually. You can always reach out to us and ask us what we’re doing and how we’re doing at any time!

If you are already part of Ignis Community, shoot us an email and let us know how you’d like to connect with us.

Ignis Community US Staff
info@igniscommunity.org

Ignis Community's April Update

We cannot believe it is already April! It's amazing to see the weather warm-up as nature beautifully blooms again. Along with much of the world, Ignis Community is warming up after a year of COVID-19 hardships. It has been an incredibly tough year for many of us in 2020 and may still be right now. Our normal activities halted due to border closures, but we are happy to announce that we do have counterparts working diligently on the ground. Children with developmental disabilities are continuing to receive treatment by visiting the hospital you helped Ignis build. And although it is bittersweet, we are grateful that work remains ongoing despite border closures. Meanwhile, we are hoping and praying that the doors will reopen for Ignis team members to return to the frontlines ourselves.

We also have a special announcement! Our co-founder Joy Yoon launched her newYoutube channel called “Discovering Joy”. One of the things Joy's family has learned was to treat disabled children in Pyongyang and share with their parents the joy of being found in a difficult and hard environment. Joy and Stephen's two youngest children have developmental and physical disabilities. Joy works as an educational therapist to educate and train children and parents with pediatric disabilities.

Her hope is to encourage and share training experience tips with many parents who are enduring similar challenges. This is a program for parents who think their child has a developmental disability or their learning ability is delayed. And these training are the training that children and parents do together at home. Not only in hospital or treatment facilities, but at home, parents can do it in everyday life with their children. Although the videos are in Korean, you can always turn on the English subtitles! Please comment, subscribe, and like Joy's new Youtube channel!

Our team has been wanting to connect with new faces, donors, and friends so we encourage you to sign up for our newsletters. Through these newsletters, you can hear about various events we hold virtually. We’d love to connect with people who are interested in Ignis Community and the work we do in North Korea. You can subscribe by visiting our website and clicking on “Subscribe to Ignis” at the bottom of the page.

We also encourage you to reach out to us any time. We want to be transparent and share updates if you are curious! You can always contact us and ask questions at any time.

Contact Us (1).png

This journey is not easy, especially in the midst of the current worldwide pandemic, but as our name suggests, Ignis Community is all about igniting hope to the hopeless. Without fail, we are determined to keep pressing forward and bring hope to the children of North Korea.

Ignis Community Team.