Dulwich Talk: From Wall Street to Human Rights Advocacy
Last week, students from Year 10 to Year 13 gathered in the Alleyn Theatre for a powerful Dulwich Talk by author Seh-Lynn Chai.
Born and raised in various French-speaking countries in West Africa, Ms Chai shared her journey as a “third culture kid”, from a successful career in finance in New York to her life in London, where she attended an event that led to a chance meeting with North Korean defector Park Jihyun. Moved by Park’s story, Ms Chai was compelled to write a book that has since been translated into five languages and taken her onto the international stage as a speaker and expert on Korean issues.
The Dulwich community also viewed a documentary about Park Jihyun, giving vivid insight into the lived realities of North Koreans and the challenges of starting a new life beyond the peninsula. Ms Chai spoke about the importance of human connection, how writing became both a form of advocacy and a way of discovering her own inner reality, and how her trilingual background has shaped her writing voice.
She also touched on how upbringing and perspective shape one’s sense of history and truth. For example, Park had grown up believing that South Korea had started the Korean War, while Ms Chai herself acknowledged that she had been unaware of North Korea’s initial prosperity in the early years after the peninsula’s division. These contrasting perspectives gave students much to consider as they engaged with thoughtful questions following the talk.
In addition to the main event, Ms Chai visited our French class, where she conducted a session entirely in French. She read a passage from her book and held a lively discussion with students, who had the opportunity to ask questions in the language they are studying.
The visit left a strong impression on our community, encouraging students to reflect on empathy, storytelling, and the power of giving voice to others. We thank Ms Chai for sharing her journey and for inspiring us with her commitment to human rights and advocacy.
