Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Announcement for 2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School

The Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School started in 2004. Till now, 127 people from 22 countries have participated. The aim of the Folk school is to introduce the participants to Korean History and various democratic movements, including the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, through both theoretical and practical experiences.


The Folk School strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights through out Asia by hosting 20 invitees from all over Asia who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries. The emphasis is on organizational partnership, so applicants endorsed by their organization will be given priority.


Junior Staff - 8 (with 2-5 years experience)

Middle Management/Advisory- 8 (with 5-15 years experience)

Senior/Director- 4 (with more than 15 years experience)


One of the perks of attending the Folk School is the opportunity to be endorsed for a scholarship at Sungkonghoe University’s Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS). Students will be chosen and selected by the folk school committee based on their active participation and performance during the folk school.

Applicants are advised to read the guidelines carefully. The foundation will only accept and consider applicants who will properly comply with the set guidelines and rules.


Incomplete applications will not be considered.


See Application forms for more details.


Useful Information

Applicants should ensure that they have no potential visa problems. If an applicant is denied entry to Korea because of personal history which they did not disclose to the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the foundation will absolutely not cover their travel expenses. This is the applicant’s responsibility.


If an applicant later decides not to come to the folk school (cancels their application) after they have accepted a place, the May Memorial Foundation will not accept any applications from their organization for three years.


The May 18 Memorial Foundation will cover the following expenses during the programme:

l Visa fees

l International airfare to Korea

l Transportation in Korea

l Accommodation


The following expenses will NOT be covered:

l Internal transportation, including internal flights, in your country (for example, to the airport or to the embassy)

l Official fees other than visa fees (for example, travel tax)


Please send your application to


518folkschool@gmail.com

Application deadline May 31, 2010.

Period of event: August 09 – August 27, 2010

Irom Sharmila Video


Irom Sharmila is a young woman of Manipur who has been on a fast-to-death for nearly 7 years now. She has been demanding the removal of a brutal law from her land. Manipur is a north-east Indian state (bordering Myanmar), riven for decades by insurgency and armed separatist movements. The Government of India has attempted to control the situation militarily, granting drastic powers to the security forces. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act enforced in the region lets people be arrested, shot and even killed - on suspicion alone. But Sharmila is willing to stake everything -- even her life -- to restore justice and dignity to her people.
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/