Little Princes is the journey of one man's vision in helping others, and is a true example of how one person really can make a difference. For humanitarian reasons, Conor Grennan travels to Nepal to find and rescue children who have been abandoned by their supposed saviours, to return them to their parents.
Memoir Spans Over Four Years in the Rescue of Children
This book starts off by explaining the crisis in Nepal. Basically, during the civil war, the Maoist rebel army would abduct children and force them into becoming recruits. Child traffickers preyed on the parents' fears; charging large sums of money to supposedly take the children to a safer area. These children were actually left abandoned, becoming in effect, orphans.
Grennan starts his journey based on a volunteer brochure to help orphans in Nepal, during a civil war.
It's not just the physical journey that is documented. Readers actually see the change that overcomes Grennan as he matures from the 'holier-than-thou' attitude of 'look at me see how great I am to do this'; to a true bonding to the people of Nepal and their predicament., and a need to help in any way. It's also a journey of seven children who are found and helped by his group.
Seven Found Children and Their Stories
Readers are introduced to the beauty of the land, the generosity and hopefulness of its people, and the horrific conditions under which life keeps going. Make no mistake, there is a war going on, and while Grennan is not a peacekeeper, he is on a mission and the war touches him as he travels to help locate missing children; then reunite them with their parents.
It's the personal touch that drives the story along: Grennan's meeting and intimate thoughts about his (now) wife; the camaraderie of the travelling groups who risk their lives to help each other; and the absurdity that life throws at people in general (imagine being in the jungle, lost and worried about making it to food and a safe place, hurling yourself at an oncoming troupe, not caring if it was rebels or whomever, at least they were going somewhere - and landing in the arms of a Scottish leader loaded with apples!)
Next Generation Nepal
Obviously there's a happy ending, as the book is written and published. But, as the author points out, there are still "tens of thousands of children still missing in Nepal". The happy ending is really only for a select few. But the journey IS a success, and a new home for children has been established and thrives in this war-torn country. By purchasing this book, proceeds go towards buying food and educational supplies, and finding more of the lost children in Nepal. Sales have been successful to allow a children's home in Humla. Visit Next Generation Nepal to find out more.
Book courtesy of FSB Associates.
Reference:
Grennan, Conor. Little Princes:One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal. New York, NY USA: HarperCollins, 2010.
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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