July 28th 9am-5pm and July 29th 9am-3pm

We are proud to feature this work of Laurent Zeigler:

Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit — Memories from my childhood
Paintings, Drawings, Text and Photography

I extract my feelings and words from my absolute night. Clarice Lispector

»Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit« is a story about transformation and healing, the artist’s very personal journey to his own heart and to a self worthy of love and life.

The exhibition and the same titled print publication provide an insight into the autobiographical analysis of traumatic experiences of childhood abuse. It was only decades later, while experiencing growing signs of depression and isolation, that Laurent Ziegler was able to engage with the painful recollection of these events. Through daily therapeutic practices, the artist captured memories in paintings, drawings, text and photography in order to give the unspeakable a name and a form.

Laurent Ziegler’s biography is not an isolated case. As their lone companion, shame separates the victim from a good, self-determined life, even after years of suffering. »Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit« shows the level of suffering through abuse and especially ritual abuse in our society. The artist hopes for a collective silence to become an open dialogue. To be seen is what is needed the most.

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Deep appreciation to the Austrian Cultural Forum London for its generous support in enabling this Exhibition

July 28^th 9am-5pm and July 29^th 9am-4pm

We are proud to showcase the Red Seat initiative of Kendall Alaimo.

#Seats4Survivors

As a performative artwork marking the 2021 World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Kendall Alaimo established the Red Seat initiative to encourage valuable dialog on these very human rights violations.

Red Seats represent not only seats in classrooms, seats at corporations for survivors to obtain career paths to aid in societal reintegration, opportunity, economic equity, sustained freedom, a way home, a voice, and a seat at the table with regard to development of policy that drives prevention.

These Red Seats also symbolize the fundamental human right of freedom that every human being is entitled to at birth and a symbol of our collective commitment to ensuring these very freedoms.

By sending Red Seats to universities, institutions and individuals across the world, Kendall aims to eradicate modern day slavery by creating pathways for survivors to obtain education and financial freedom. This Red Seat initiative was recently featured in the CNN International report: ‘Artist gives a voice to trafficking survivors.’

A pop-up Showcase of Red Seats will be on display in a courtyard of Goodenough College.

July 28th^th, 1-3pm

In the spirit of SDG 4 (“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”) we have created a pop-up Interactive Installation. In this two-hour segment, participants will be able to visit the art exhibition while learning more about human trafficking and modern slavery.

Art Exhibition

Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit — Memories from my childhood

The artist, Laurent Ziegler, will be on site.

Program

Welcome by
Les Simm, Executive Director, the International Forum for Understanding

Video message by
Mira Sorvino, Oscar winning actress, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking

Presentations by (alphabetical)

Kendall Alaimo, ‘Educate to Liberate’
Artist, speaker, and educator with lived experience in human trafficking. As an Artist, Kendall is known for using her iconic Red Seats to symbolize the anti-trafficking movement. She has made several addresses at the United Nations. Her artwork and activism has recently been featured on CNN International. A Showcase of Kendall’s Red Seats project will be on site.

Malcom Bidaldi (remote), ‘From Modern Day Slavery to Migrant Defenders’
From Kenya, Malcolm was subjected to modern slavery conditions abroad. In response, he and Aidah Muli set up MigrantDefenders.org to empower aspiring/working migrant workers on their rights in the Gulf states and the avenues they can take to seek justice.

Miriam Karmali, ‘Creating space for survivor leadership‘
Miriam is the advocacy manager at Freedom United, the world’s largest community taking action against modern slavery. She coordinates Freedom United’s advocacy and campaign work whilst leading successful advocacy efforts on a range of global modern slavery issues.

Ishaan Shah, ‘Recognising Intersectionalities and Raising Awareness’
19-year-old international anti-human trafficking, gender equality and climate action leader. In 2017, he founded Stolen Dreams, a youth-led organisation working with global stakeholders to drive concrete actions around countering trafficking in persons through education, advocacy, and policy.

Heather Wokusch, ‘Mental Health and Human Trafficking’
Executive Director of MESPERO: Impact for Resilience, which aims to close treatment gaps, increase mental-health literacy, reduce stigmatization and mitigate trauma in humanitarian settings. Heather is the Director of Development for the International Forum for Understanding.

Dr. Hyab Yohannes, ‘Reclaiming Our Humanity’
Hyab is an academic with a PhD entitled The Realities of Eritrean Refugees in a Carceral Age from the University of Glasgow, where he currently works as an academic coordinator for CUSP N+. He has extensive experience in undertaking fieldwork, interviews, critical evaluation and interpretation, as well as computer-based data analysis and evaluation.

 Interaction

Participants will have the opportunity to meet the artist and speakers in an informal setting.

Download pdf info

July 29th^th, 5-7pm

*The Exhibition will be available from 4-5pm for those wishing to visit directly before the Event.

Many thanks to the Austrian Cultural Forum London for its generous support of the Exhibition.

Welcome

Dr. Suad Mohamed, International Forum for Understanding SDG Ambassador

Video message

Mira Sorvino, Oscar winning actress, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking

Presenters (alphabetically):

Kendall Alaimo, ‘Educate to Liberate’

Peter Bach, ‘The Role of Media in Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery’

Nour Barakeh, performance art: LIGHT

Malcom Bidaldi (video message), ‘From Modern Day Slavery to Migrant Defenders’

Dr. Ella Cockbain, ‘The War in Ukraine and Associated Risks of Human Trafficking and Exploitation’

Joanna Ewart-James, ‘Creating Space for Survivor Leadership’

Ji Hyun Park, ‘Human Trafficking that Kills Human Souls’

Ishaan Shah, ‘Recognising Intersectionalities and Raising Awareness’

Hassina Syed, ‘To Engage with Afghanistan, or Not to Engage with Afghanistan, That Is the Question’

Heather Wokusch, ‘Mental Health and Human Trafficking’

Dr. Hyab Yohannes, ‘Reclaiming Our Humanity’

Laurent Ziegler, a video message from the artist

Closing

Les Simm, Executive Director, International Forum for Understanding