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Author Biography

Conor Grennan, author of Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal took the spotlight in 2004 when his book was released. Conor is a citizen of both the United States and Ireland.[1] He grew up in both New York and New Jersey. Conor initially worked at the East West Institute (EWI) for 8 years at both Prague and the EU office in Brussels. There he was the Deputy Director for the Security and Governance Program. While working there Conor helped develop and manage a wide variety of projects. These projects would focus on subjects from peace and reconciliation in the Balkans to Community development in Central Eastern Europe. He would also work on harmonizing anti-trafficking policies. This would include the highest levels of government in the European Union and the former Yugoslavia.

Conor decided that he needed to make a change in his life. Like many other people in the world today he was bored with his line of work and decided to make that change. In order to make that change Conor planned to spend his entire life savings on a round trip that traveled around the world. The first step would take place in Nepal where he would work at the Little Prince’s Child Home in the village of Godawari.[2]

Since most of his friends and family didn't support his trip around the world he used his first stop at Nepal as a way to show off and brag about how he cared. Conor would arrive at the orphanage in November of 2004, where the rest of his life would find its path. At first Conor thought that he would be working at any ordinary orphanage. It wasn’t until much later that he would learn that this orphanage housed children that were stolen from their families and trafficked across the country.[3] On this path he learned to love the Little Prince’s Home along with its way of life and although he had to leave he swore to return within a year.

With this new information he founded and became president of the no-profit organization “Next Generation Nepal” based in Kathmandu Nepal. This organization was dedicated to reconnecting the children who were trafficked away from their families and combating the root causes of child trafficking in rural villages in Nepal.[4] He is currently serving on the boar Next Generation Nepal with his wife. But more of that can be found below.

Conor currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.[5] He met his wife, Liz, while he was in Nepal. He has two children, Finn, the oldest at four, and Lucy, the youngest at two. He graduated for NYU Stern School of Business in 2010 while also gaining a degree from University of Virginia. He is also highly requested by both universities and corporations to come as a motivational speaker to talk about what is currently going on in Nepal. In 2011 he was named a Huffington Post Game Changer for his work. Praises for Conor

"Conor, Scarlet Oaks cannot thank you enough for the time you spent visiting our campus and speaking with our senior English students. Although we've done our senior read for the past seven years, we believe that your visit has been the most memorable and the most life-changing for our young people. During that day you spent with us, and then into the following last days before they graduated, the students excitedly talked about you, your stories, and how you took the time to answer their questions with such depth and passion. For these young people to be transformed from outside their own selves to a place of caring for others and others of another culture is no less than life altering. Remarkably, many of them are now aware of how possible travel is and several have plans to study abroad when they get to college. In addition, many of them have set goals to leave their own small communities for the first time in their lives and visit other places near and far. We senior English instructors thank you for supporting our senior read and for being a bridge into the adult world of literature and life for our young people." -- Nancy, Scarlet Oaks Career Campus[6]

"In short, Conor was sensational ... his talk was one of the best author talks I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). He ended it with a portion really tailor-made and personalized to our audience and it was just wonderful. [We've] brought in Vonnegut, Sontag, you name it, and we filled the huge orchestra hall every time. But all of us agreed that Conor -- and his message -- was better than any of them. If he writes another book, I'll do everything I can to get it selected for the Freshman reading. I've been getting emails all day from students who were there telling me how much it affected them. " --Brad Ricca, Case Western Reserve University[7]

"The University of Calgary's Common Reading Program, a shared academic experience that encourages each student to reflect on their role as a student and a citizen, presented each new 2011 student with a copy of Conor Grennan's book Little Princes. When Conor delivered the keynote address during their induction ceremony, his inspirational and accessible approach, his ideas and his insights prompted 5000 students to give him a standing ovation. Conor personifies those qualities of leadership and return to community that we encourage at the university; he has already inspired our students to set up a fundraising drive to give back to the community ... This extraordinary young man is a profound example of how one person can make a difference in the community, and how one's actions can have a huge impact and inspire so many others to do the same." --Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary[8]

"Conor Grennan is an engaging and entertaining speaker whose quick wit and unpretentious manner reinforce the power of his story. He speaks especially effectively to young adults in terms they relate to while making clear his belief in finding yourself through service to others -- whatever the initial motive to that service might be." -- Joe Lucia, University Librarian, Villanova University[9]

"Reading Conor Grennan's Little Princes with my seventh grade students was tremendously rewarding for all involved. My students' natural curiosity was piqued and they quickly became personally invested in Conor's and the orphans' experiences. My students were genuinely intrigued by the stories of the individuals involved, and they were captivated by the cultural differences and injustices that Conor brought to light. A heightened cultural awareness resulted as was an appreciation for the many advantages my students are fortunate enough to enjoy as a result of their more secure upbringings. Conor's rapport with this age group was excellent. He was engaging and showed genuine interest in the students' many questions. There was a mutual respect and speaker and audience related beautifully. Students were compelled to wonder how such injustices continue to be perpetuated and how they can help the children of Nepal. My students were truly inspired by Little Princes and Conor himself." --Randi Rosen, New Paltz Middle School[10]

"Conor has a gift for communicating with young people a very authentic way. Not only did over five hundred Collegiate middle school students give him a standing ovation following his presentation on the Little Princes Children's Home and Next Generation Nepal, these same students are now inspired to serve in the local Richmond community and in larger world community." --Sally Chambers, Collegiate Academy[11]

"Conor visited the Delbarton Community on two occasions. When the School selected his book Little Princes for our All-School Summer Read as a vehicle to further our goal of developing global awareness, we were fortunate to have Conor introduce the book himself. And so, during a Skype interview last spring 2011, Conor appeared to our students and faculty as a "huge floating head" on the auditorium screen, promoting his book and its message. He was very well received by the students and he thankfully built a lot of excitement for the summer reading. This second appearance in person on November 2011 was also a big hit. " --Anne Leckie, Delbarton School[12]

"Conor was terrific -- easygoing, very fan-friendly, a charismatic speaker... this year's All Fairfax Reads selection has been one of the most popular so far. [He] was an all-around fantastic speaker -- personable, charismatic ... The audience loved the way he included so many captivating slides from his travels in Nepal." --Ted Kavich, All Fairfax Reads[13]

"Conor was fabulous yesterday! We REALLY enjoyed him. I've been teaching for 14 years and have seen my share of assemblies. Conor's presentation got THE BEST response I've ever seen! The kids ALL had positive things to say about him: how nice he was, how real, how personable, how much of a hero he was. Middle school kids are brutally honest, so this is a huge compliment. Conor really is 'the complete speaking package' ... nonfiction, social studies, volunteering, and a genuine personality. It was such a special day for us to have Conor. When I read Conor's book in my book club, I thought it was a good read, but the more and more I thought about it in the months after, I realized it was a great read and it was an incredible thing Conor had done for those families in Nepal. This whole social atrocity just seemed to fall in his lap; he was obviously the chosen one for this heroic work. As I listened to Conor speak to a mesmerized group of middle school students, I couldn't help but think he was insanely brave to return to Nepal when many would've turned their backs. I'm not sure I would've had the courage to return myself, but I'm so glad he did. He has changed the world thanks to his integrity -- a feat not many can claim. Conor inspired us all today to do more with our lives. It was a great day for my school and the buzz about Conor continues. " --Dana Newsom, LaGrange Middle School[14]

"Conor's presentation was extremely relevant and embraced the theme of our YMCA Peace Medal Breakfast, which was to honour individuals that foster a Culture of Peace in our community. He was engaging and captured hearts of the audience. His story was relevant and demonstrated to the young people in our audience that we all can make a difference in the world." --Susy Comegna, YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford, Ontario, Canada[15]

Little Princes as a Common Reader

Conor Grennan's book Little Princes has been translated into 12 languages, including English, French, Bulgarian, Chinese, Korean, Dutch, and Italian. Little Princes has also been used as the common reader for several schools including Ball State University[16], Virginia Tech [17], Elon University [18] , Central College [19] , St. Cloud State University [20] , San Jose State University [21] , Wingate University (NC) [22] , Michigan Tech [23] , and Otterbein University [24].

Grennan has also spoken at several universities, including Hilbert University, Villanova, Lower Canada College, and St. Bonaventure University.

Little Princes was also chosen as the "One Town, One Book' choice for Farmington, Connecticut in the summer of 2013 [25] . Next Generation Nepal

Being a student at East West Institute in Brussels, Conor Grennan left his job to go on an “around the world trip for a year in the summer of August 2004. Grennan started his 3-month voyage with the Little Princes children home, located in the village of Godawri Nepal. While performing his volunteer services Grennan he instantaneously fell in love with the 18 children that were under his care. While enjoying their company he decided to return in January of 2006 along with Grennan’s colleague, Farid Ait- Mansour.

While in Nepal at the orphanage, there was a mother of two children who belong to the orphanage had come to Grennan to explain the real story behind the orphanage. Grennan soon learned that the children were not orphans at all, but they were children rescued from the streets of Kathmandu; being snatched up by children traffickers. They were taken from their families and the Little Princes organization came and rescued these children from the streets and brought to safe environment. While Grennan was attending to the children he soon found out that seven children he was familiar with was taken away by traffickers and this allowed him to go out on a determined mission to find them.

Many months passed by while Grennan and his colleague Farid worked together to ensure that traffickers disabled form taking this children by providing the found children with a life of health stability and security. This allowed Grennan and Farid to focus on the children outside of the orphanage. They soon found out that there were countless children outside of the orphanage taken that the arms of the system could wrap the their arms around. These were children were discovered as abandoned and forgotten, starving with no homes and medically forsaken. However this didn’t cancel the mission of Grennan to rescue these children from their despair and sorrow. While these stories touched their hearts of Grennan and Farid, they began discussing what they could do to protect these children and give them the same right and opportunities like the children of the Little Princes. Grennan Returned to America in April 2006 with a group of valuable directors who help to formed the Next Generation Nepal. This program was dedicated to protecting and securing the trafficked children from exploitation and oppression. The goal of this organization was just to protect the children, it was also to connect and reunite these children with their families; for the parents who haven’t seen their children in years.

With the journey of the Next Generation Nepal organization underway, Grennan had volunteers to help out with this organization. Grennan met a woman by the name of Liz Flanagan. Flanagan was a dedicated worker of NGN who worked her way up in becoming a leader to the organization. She spent many of her days and nights using her resources to help be beneficial to Next Generation Nepal. Grennan and Liz had a great connection and was pleased to know how dedicated and determined she as to the organization. Grennan decided to move back to America after two years of working with the Little Princes and other varies children of Nepal. Grennan and Liz were married by March 2008. Together they continued to work at the NGN organization to successful development. By 2010 Next Generation Nepal became a huge organization with the attention of social media from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, who are now great supports of the objective of Next Generation Nepal organization. Plot

Connor Grennan planned a year long trip around the world. Little Princes tells the true life story of Connor Grennan, who started his trip in Little Princes Orphanage in Nepal. A woman approached Connor Grennan and told him that a couple of the kids at the orphanage were hers and had been taken from her. Conor realized that many of the kids in the orphanage had been taken from their homes by child traffickers ,who tricked families into believing their kids were being taken somewhere safe from the dangers of war.The woman had been housing seven other trafficked children. Conor Grennan saw this as an opportunity to help the children he had learned to love. He found a home for the seven children ,as well as a staff to take care of them. In January 2005, Grennan left Little Princes for the rest of his trip around the world.He didn't want to leave the children ,but promised he would be back in a year. Soon after coming home from Nepal, Grennan gets an email saying that seven more children had been taken by traffickers.[26] Raising enough money to get back to Nepal, he is also able to fund a new children's home with a new volunteer named Farid. He names it Next Generation Nepal and makes it his duty to find the seven lost children. Conor Grennan risks his life to save the seven children in war torn Nepal in this detailed account of his journey.[27]

Refrences

Jump up ^ Grennan, Conor. "About". conorgrennan.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ Grennan, Conor. "About". conorgrennan.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ Grennan, Conor. "About". conorgrennan.com. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ "Conor Grennan". Harper Collins Speakers Bereau. Retrieved 18 November 2013. Jump up ^ http://cms.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/freshmanconnections/reader. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://www.commonbook.vt.edu/content/common_book.html. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/special_programs/common_reading/current_about12-13.xhtml. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://news.central.edu/news-release/little-princes-named-2012-common-reading-book/. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://www.stcloudstate.edu/commonread/. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://harperacademic.blogspot.com/2012/05/another-common-reading-pick-for-conor.html. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://www.wingate.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/common-reading. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://harperacademic.blogspot.com/2012/05/another-common-reading-pick-for-conor.html. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://www.otterbein.edu/commonbook. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ http://farmington.patch.com/groups/events/p/one-book-event-read-the-book-meet-the-author. Missing or empty |title= (help) Jump up ^ "Book Summary". Book Browse. Retrieved 17 November 2013. Jump up ^ Terry, Hong. "Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 14 November 2013.

28. Next Generation Nepal http://www.nextgenerationnepal.org/File/NGN_Annual_Report_2010.pdf