The author of "Little Princes" visits Elon University for a 7:30 p.m. talk about his New York Times bestselling book and his nonprofit's efforts to reunite children separated from their families by human traffickers during Nepal's civil war.
Tuesday, September 17
Elon Common Reading Lecture by Conor Grennan
Alumni Gym, Koury Center, 7:30 p.m.
Conor Grennan is founder of Next Generation Nepal, an international child rights advocate and author of the 2013–14 Elon Common Reading selection.
“Little Princes” tells the story of Grennan’s visit to Nepal during his initial travels through Asia in 2004 as part of a yearlong journey around the world. He wanted to volunteer for a short time at an orphanage with the admitted purpose of impressing his friends back home, but when Grennan develops a deep affection for the children under his care, it sets in motion of series of events that culminates two years later with a visit to some of the roughest terrain on the planet as he locates parents who lost their children to human traffickers during the nation’s ongoing civil war.
Next Generation Nepal grew out of Grennan’s repeat visits to the mountainous Asian nation. The charity operates homes in Nepal for children still without families to call their own.
“Little Princes” has been translated into 12 languages and Grennan was named a Huffington Post Game Changer of the Year in 2011. He lives with his wife, Liz, and his son Finn and daughter Lucy in Los Angeles.
The book was selected as Elon’s Common Reading in part because of a narrative that connects with themes of diversity, global engagement, human trafficking, poverty, the Nepal region, Buddhism and Hinduism, personal development and writing. Admission: $12 or Elon ID. Tickets available August 27 by contacting the Center for the Arts Box Office.