The Jeolla Safety Alliance (JSA)
Jeolla Safety Alliance (JSA) was created in November 2012 in response to a rape in Gwangju. The JSA Facebook group is a forum for the international community to share information on staying safe and helping others in need. Since its creation JSA has been gathering information, fact checking and raising awareness.
The three founders, Nancy Harcar, Maria Lisak and Laura Sparley, have researched and written different materials for JSA. A community that seeks to understand and help in emergencies and accidents in Korea is slowly being coordinated by connecting different groups of people with different organizations offering assistance.
The JSA founders have developed relationships with the police in Donggu. Officer Lee Hye Gyoung has spent several volunteer hours translating laws and disclosing statistics on foreign victims and crimes. JSA members have also begun work for conducting emergency training calls with English speakers and for editing new law changes on brochures and public announcements. This relationship between JSA and the Donggu Police Station will act as a guide for more outreach with the other police districts in Gwangju.
Harcar and Gyoung gave a presentation on safety during a May GIC Talk. In addition, Sparley has tracked down resources with the Korean police and the offices of different embassies. Lisak has visited psychologists, One Stop Emergency Centers and emergency rooms to verify access to English translation and has mapped out locations for non-Korean speakers. Meetings and advice from lawyer Duk Hee Park continue as the team has visited him to discuss proper police procedure and legal precedents, all in order to provide legal representation to those in need.
The JSA has also benefited from online and face-to-face meetings. Currently the JSA website is being prepared by Adam Greenberg and the JSA logo has been created by Jen Lee. A public service announcement video has been created by William Harris regarding access to the One Stop Center. The One Stop Emergency Care Center in Gwangju has also been established, with an all-female staff, to assist foreign residents by providing medical care, police assistance and therapy in cases of sexual attacks or domestic violence.
As the founders continue to set up an organization that supports accurate information, provides reliable resources and bridges the gap between those who need help and those who can offer help, Sparley is leaving. She has been a connector in the community; finding people who were too embarrassed or shy to ask for help and assisting them to get the help they needed. As she steps into her next adventure, Amanda Serrano has stepped up to help lead this organization.
JSA would like to start planning outreach activities for the fall. Please contact the Facebook group to get involved: www.facebook.com/groups/531604226867515/.
We are currently looking for people to volunteer to check for resources in their area (medical and police) and find out how accessible to English these locations are and to help set up a “phone tree” style of assistance for those in emergency situations. Additionally, Lisak will be coordinating a project with her university students to deliver packets of information from the BBB phone, the GIC and the JSA to help train emergency center in-take personnel to help assist foreigners who do not speak Korean.
TIPS:
1. Awareness.
While Korea may feel safer than your home country, you should still practice safety tips suggested in Korea.
2. It can happen to everyone.
Women are not the only people at risk of violence. As foreigners we all stand out. Attackers choose victims who do not have access to any support group. Know how to be safe in your surroundings, regardless of your gender.
3. Get educated.
Being an ex-pat in Korea presents its own special cultural, situational and legal challenges. Share what works well for your safety on the JSA Facebook Group Wall, as well as by checking out our website.
4. Help each other.
Sharing information, discussing questions with others, using a buddy system, watching out for others while being out and designating safe spots for those in trouble are all ways to help each other stay safe.
HOW THE JSA CAN HELP YOU
JSA helps victims of crime with expenses incurred as part of being a victim of violent crimes that are not covered by insurance, including hospital fees and transportation costs to/from the hospital.
If JSA refers a victim to a lawyer, the initial legal consultation to see what the victim’s options are will be paid for by JSA.
JSA supports speakers at JSA-sponsored events who are experts in safety issues by providing nominal speaker fees and reimbursement for travel.
JSA may provide free services or giveaways relating to safety, such as whistles and information cards, to increase safety and awareness in the foreigner community.
http://jeollasafetyalliance.com