Coming to Scotland

Two months ago, I highlighted the actions of one activist, Shona Maguire, in trying to improve the lives of North Korean defectors. It looks like the first ten North Korean will be arriving in Scotland very soon

SHONA MAGUIRE’S Korea path is heading for Tweeddale.

The 25-year-old spent 15 months teaching English to refugees in the South Korean town of Jayoutuh in 2005 and 2006.

And following her return to Scotland at the end of last year, she has campaigned to raise awareness of their plight and also launch a charity to arrange cultural visits for the fleeing students.

At an inaugural meeting and film show earlier this year in the Burgh Hall, the former Peebles High pupil recruited a small army of like-minded volunteers.

And the recently-formed Scottish Hospitality Initiative for North Korea will be hosting its first 10 Koreans this summer.

Shona told the Peeblesshire News: “We will be hosting 10 students who have fled from North Korea for around 10 days in August. The idea is to give them a cultural and fun insight into Scotland.

“We are talking about young people between the age of 16 and 26 who want to learn English as they progress their studies. Many of them are alone as their families are still back in North Korea.

They even have a website for their organization, Scottish Hospitality Initiative for North Koreans. I will emphasize once again, it only takes one person with courage to change the world.