During the North Korean famine of the late 90s, the presenter worked with a team of colleagues from six non-profit organizations. The work was to carry out project assessments and to monitor the distribution of U.S. government-provided food commodities through 152 food-for-work projects throughout North Korea. This job entailed repeated contact with as many as 300 North Korean senior officials. Did the food commodities reach the affected populations? How controlled were the team’s movements in the field and in Pyongyang? And what types of relationships were built with the instructor’s North Korean “minders” and other officials encountered in the field?

The presenter will show photos that she took during her time in North Korea including photos of people she met during her travels, propaganda signs, mass games, museums, Panmunjom, mountain landscapes and many others!

Cosponsored by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (OLLI Mason).

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Christy Gavitt was a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea from 1974-76. She then worked overseas in international relief and development programs for 32 years, mostly in East Africa. From 2008, she worked for over five years as the senior health coordinator at the American Red Cross.

ABOUT OLLI MASON

OLLI Mason provides intellectual and cultural experiences to curious individuals. Learn more at OLLI.gmu.edu.

INVITE

This program is appropriate for ages 18+. Register by clicking on the "Begin Registration" button. A Zoom link will be emailed a day before start of each program.