Children in North Korea drink soymilk to maintain healthy nutrition.

Naptime for the children is an essential part of their day.

The Tongchon Myonggo #1 Daycare in Tonchon, North Korea.

Workers at the Nampo Waudo Daycare and Kindergarten Supply Center.

At the Yangji Daycare, every child receives a fresh shot of garlic every morning.

The First Steps team with workers at the Kalma Policlinic.

At The Wonsan Orphanage, one of our beneficiary schools, children enjoy fresh soymilk every morning.

Children at the Nampo Kindergarten Orphanage enjoying fresh soymilk.

Mr. Yon with his soymilk delivery bike in front of the Hanggu Daycare and Kindergarten Supply Centre in Nampo

Winter in Munchon brings lots of heavy snowfall.

The First Steps team confirming the arrival of 7.2 million sachets of micronutrient Sprinkles.

Cleaning up after finishing the day's soymilk production at the Hanggu Daycare and Kindergarten Supply Centre in Nampo.

A mother and her son with Sprinkles at the Hupo Policlinic in Nampo.

Children at the Wonsan Weekly Daycare in Wonsan, North Korea.

The First Steps team at the Dokchon Foodstuff Factory, a soymilk production site.

Mothers and babies at the Hupo Policlinic in Nampo.

Children at the Wonsan Orphanage enjoying their morning cup of soymilk..

Our milkcans filled with delicious and nutritional soymillk.

For children, naptime is the most exciting part of their day.

First Steps is a Christian organization committed to preventing child malnutrition in North Korea through programs that provide essential nutrients to young children and pregnant and lactating mothers.

We exist to practically demonstrate the love of Christ in North Korea by providing sustainable, and life-enhancing nutritional relief.

MISSION

First Steps seeks to prevent and alleviate childhood malnutrition in North Korea through our programs which provide essential nutrients to young children, babies, pregnant, and lactating mothers. We are motivated by our faith to share God’s love by working with the government to improve the health and prospects of women and children in the DPRK. First Steps has the rare and privileged opportunity of continuing our humanitarian aid in the DPRK over many years and through many challenges.

VISION

Our close relationship with central, provincial, county, and city officials in North Korea allows us to reach vulnerable women and children in schools, orphanages, and rural communities, ultimately relieving child malnutrition in North Korea. Motivated by our faith, we have secured excellent partnerships, effective working relationships, and growing access in North Korea. We focus solely on improving the wellbeing of women and children, and direct all our efforts into protecting and improving their health and development.

OUR IMPACT

Geographical Reach

First Steps’ programs operate in 10 areas across four provinces and one district: Kangwon Province (Munchon, Tongchon, Wonsan), North Hamgyong Province (Yonsa), Ryanggang Province (Hyesan, Pochon, Samjiyon), South Pyongan Province (Dokchon), Nampo and Hyongjesan (see map below).

Thriving Partnerships

First Steps has full access to all partner locations which includes clinics, hospitals, soymilk production sites, and soymilk beneficiary institutions. All First Steps’ packaging, program training materials, education, and communication materials are provided in Korean.

Full Government Support and Endorsement

In Pyongyang, First Steps works with officials from the Korea Canada Cooperation Agency (KCCA) as well as other government partners including the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), public health officials, and provincial and county level People’s Committees.

Hands-on Accountability

First Steps believes in seeing the work first hand. In 2019, First Steps made 33 visits to soymilk production centers, 37 visits to clinics and hospitals, and visited 27 daycares and kindergartens.