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Photo Lecture: Eliminating Statelessness in Thailand
Speaker: Joseph Quinnell
Joseph Quinnell is a photographer, activist, and co-founder of The Thailand Project. He uses creative concepts, strategic planning, and innovative solutions to fight against statelessness, which is the highest risk factor for human trafficking in Thailand. (Statelessness means "lacking citizenship from any country". Worldwide, there are roughly 12-15 million people who are stateless. It is estimated that there are over 3.5 million such people within Thailand alone. Without citizenship, stateless individuals are denied the right to have rights. They have little or no access to education, healthcare, work, or freedom of movement.)
As an undergraduate art student, Quinnell began photojournalistic research inside the child sex trade/prostitution industry of Thailand. Quinnell gathered intelligence in the attempted rescue of children being sold within a brothel, interviewed numerous adult sex workers and American sex tourists, and began relationships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and at-risk children of the Thai/Burma border region.
When he returned to school as a junior, Quinnell worked with his partner, graphic design student Susan Perri, to create a unique credit-earning study-abroad international program focused on service-learning. He also originated a traveling photography exhibit/lecture tour, as well as the groundbreaking scholarship program for stateless individuals: Higher Education as Humanitarian Aid.
Before completing their undergraduate studies, Quinnell and Perri worked on the ground overseas to negotiate an unprecedented international agreement between two governments, gaining citizenship and travel documents for their pilot program’s two stateless scholarship recipients.
Quinnell’s presentation details the project from its initial conception to its ultimate execution, challenging his audience to become more active global citizens, explore innovative social-entrepreneurial ideas, and use its gifts and abilities to tackle some of the world’s most difficult issues.
Quinnell has been a guest lecturer and keynote speaker at university lecture halls, conferences, art galleries, community events, and university classrooms.
Consider his lecture for your next event!
Joseph Quinnell is a photographer, activist, and co-founder of The Thailand Project. He uses creative concepts, strategic planning, and innovative solutions to fight against statelessness, which is the highest risk factor for human trafficking in Thailand. (Statelessness means "lacking citizenship from any country". Worldwide, there are roughly 12-15 million people who are stateless. It is estimated that there are over 3.5 million such people within Thailand alone. Without citizenship, stateless individuals are denied the right to have rights. They have little or no access to education, healthcare, work, or freedom of movement.)
As an undergraduate art student, Quinnell began photojournalistic research inside the child sex trade/prostitution industry of Thailand. Quinnell gathered intelligence in the attempted rescue of children being sold within a brothel, interviewed numerous adult sex workers and American sex tourists, and began relationships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and at-risk children of the Thai/Burma border region.
When he returned to school as a junior, Quinnell worked with his partner, graphic design student Susan Perri, to create a unique credit-earning study-abroad international program focused on service-learning. He also originated a traveling photography exhibit/lecture tour, as well as the groundbreaking scholarship program for stateless individuals: Higher Education as Humanitarian Aid.
Before completing their undergraduate studies, Quinnell and Perri worked on the ground overseas to negotiate an unprecedented international agreement between two governments, gaining citizenship and travel documents for their pilot program’s two stateless scholarship recipients.
Quinnell’s presentation details the project from its initial conception to its ultimate execution, challenging his audience to become more active global citizens, explore innovative social-entrepreneurial ideas, and use its gifts and abilities to tackle some of the world’s most difficult issues.
Quinnell has been a guest lecturer and keynote speaker at university lecture halls, conferences, art galleries, community events, and university classrooms.
Consider his lecture for your next event!
Lecture Tour Information Sheet
