FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

LNKM

SOME NGO’S TAKE QUITE A LARGE PERCENTAGE FOR THEIR OVERHEAD. HOW MUCH DOES LNKM TAKE FOR OVERHEAD COSTS?

In order to make sure as much as possible goes to the target recipients, LNKM pays no salaries to our staff.  So our cost overhead is very low. In addition, one hundred percent of all specified funds go to the intended project.  What minimal overhead costs we do have are taken out of our general funding, never from specified project funds.

IF YOUR STAFF ARE NOT PAID SALARIES, HOW DO THEY LIVE?

Our staff workers are self-supported and may work other jobs or have a support network that donates to their cost of living expenses.

I WANT TO HELP BUT I DON’T HAVE MUCH MONEY, WHAT CAN I DO?

Consider making even a small donation to one of our projects. A ten dollar donation can purchase a lantern. For all of our projects, every dollar counts and no gift is too small to make a difference.

CAN I GET INVOLVED IN HELPING YOUR NGO?

We are a small non-profit organization and the best way for you to be involved is to support our projects inside the DPRK/North Korea.

CLEAN WATER

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DRILL A WELL INSIDE NK?

Compared to other locations, the cost of well drilling inside the DPRK/North Korea is high. This is due to having to purchase much of the materials needed for drilling in China and then import them into the country. I addition, fuel costs are also high which further increases our costs.  The final determining factor in determining how much a well costs is the depth.  The deeper the well, the higher the cost.  As a general rule, we can say that the total cost for a well inside DPRK/North Korea is between $4,000 to $5,000.

HOW MANY PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM A WELL?

It depends on the project and size of the population impacted.  One of our projects was for an old folks home where one hundred people live.  Another was for a village with over two thousand people.

DO YOU DRILL WELLS YEAR-ROUND?

Unfortunately no as the winter season is too cold for drilling. Our drilling season runs from April to late October.

HOW MANY WELLS DO YOU DRILL INSIDE THE DPRK/NORTH KOREA EVERY YEAR?

It really depends on how many villages we can gain permission from the government to drill wells for. In previous years we have drilled up to between six and nine humanitarian based wells in villages, hospitals and other locations.

LANTERN

WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF THE NO-BATTERY LANTERN?

According to the manufacturer, five years. However, with continual use, we’ve been seeing them last three years.

HOW BRIGHT ARE THE LANTERNS?

They have six LED’s.

HOW LONG DOES A CHARGE LAST?

It depends on how long you crank it.  One minute cranking provides ten minutes of light. A full charge is provided with ten minutes cranking, providing one hundred minutes of light.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE PRICE DOWN?

We purchase directly from the factory in bulk, typically two thousand to three thousand at a time.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE LANTERNS GET TO THE PEOPLE?

We provide lanterns to our trusted partner NGO’s who give them out directly to the people.  LNKM also hands them out directly.

I’M INTERESTED IN TAKING THIS KIND OF LANTERN TO OTHER COUNTRIES, CAN YOU PROVIDE MANUFACTURER INFORMATION.

Yes, please contact us and we will be happy to provide the manufacturer contact information.

FOOD AID

HOW MUCH RICE DO YOU TYPICALLY PROVIDE?

We generally provide rice 10 tons at a time.

CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE THAN 10 TONS?

Yes, however 10 tons is the maximum an NGO can supply to DPRK/North Korea and keep it in their own storage facilities.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE RICE AID GETS TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT?

We purchase rice either in China or from inside DPRK/North Korea, provide private transportation and store it directly in an NGO storage facility.  Our NGO partners are then responsible for distributing the rice directly to their workers as well any other people in their distribution networks.