NUAC opened the "Mento Academy of Hand-in-Hand" for young North Korean refugees last April 21 and 22 at the Hyundai Human Resources Development Institute in Yongin City, South Korea.

A total of 200 NUAC members who wanted to be mentors for the young refugees attended the mentoring academy training program, which consisted of △ mentoring technique for young North Korean refugees and case study,△ psychology consulting technology for young refugees,△ dialogue with young refugees,and △ preparing a mentoring plan. Attendants learned "Key Know-How" to be an efficient mentor of young refugees by studying actual examples.

Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC, expressed sincere condolences for the ferry victims of the Sewol during his opening speech. "Just as we should prepare ourselves to avoid the recurrence of such tragedy, we should do the same for national unification. The mentoring program for young North Korean refugees is one of such preparations," he added.

Sin Eun-suk, Director of Council Member Activities Bureau, reported the promotion plan for the "Hand-in-Hand" program.

Gwak Jong-mun , principal of Hangyeore Middle&High School and expert in young refugees, gave a special lecture to the attendants on "Understanding Young Refugees from North Korea."

He explained their life in North Korea, background of escape from North Korea, and adaptation to South Korean society to allow the attendants to understand the adolescent refugees better.He also shared basic mentoring knowledge with them including the biggest difficulties encountered byNorth Korean minors while living in South Korean societies.

Some examples of mentoring for the young defectors from North Korea were presented

Speakers introduced the difficult and good jobs they experienced in mentoring the young refugees. Kim Gi-yeong , Gangnam-gu advisory council member and mentee of the program, was one of them; he frankly expressed how he felt during his stay in South Korean society.

Lee Don-jip , teacher of Samjung Middle School, gave a lecture to the participants on "Mentoring Technique for Young North Korean Refugees and Case Study." He cited 7 things that mentors should have: communicationtechnique, human relationship, devotion, maturity, motive, experience, and sense and leadership. "Mentors may grow tired when mentees cannot follow the mentors or they do not show positive responses.Therefore, the mentors should be patient and persistent," he emphasized.

The academy was divided into 4 groups to have dialogue with the youngsters who escaped from North Korea. Mentors could get better understanding on them through various questions. Mentoring activity plans were prepared and presented during the group discussion

Cases of success achieved by the adolescent defectors in South Korean society were introduced. Four college students presented their success story to the attendants and described their life in South Korea.

According to Prof. Jun Myung-hee of Handong Global University, we can never imagine how difficult it is to escape from North Korea. Many of the defectors suffer from serious psychological trauma, she says, while explaining the need theory. "What the mentors for the defectors should do is not only convey knowledge to them or teach them what is right in leading their lives in South Korea but also understand and sympathize with them,” she added.

Gong Yong-cheol , reporter of the Korea Broadcasting System, introduced his encounters while he was covering the relevant news with them and introduced the true pictures of North Korea and the growth environments of the youth in North Korea.

A certificate of completion was given to the council members participating in the program,with Yu Hui, the youngest advisory council member,receivingit on their behalf.

The 200 mentors who completed the academy will perform the ff.:△ setting up mentor-mentee relationswith the young defectors from North Korea,△guidance in life after school,△ guidance in study,△ career counseling,△ difficulties in counseling, and△ making friends.