Meet the photographers: Hein, Khoa,VanMay, Phuoc
Through our eyes: T
he room is dimly lit, damp and the stench of urine permeates the air. The sound of continuous muddled cries will awake twenty six disabled children from a restless night sharing the same bedroom. Four children will share a single metal grate bed. Instead of a mattress, they lie on a thin bamboo screen sharing a moldy pillow with their bedmates. As the morning light filters through the wood shutters, rats scurry out of the room and the care givers begin the morning rituals of changing diapers, mopping floors and cooking rice gruel. 
A handful of kids can lift their heads and sit up to greet the new day, while the immobile ones lie there with hardly a reason to open their eyes. These children will face another day of life at the Government Orphanage in Vietnam.
he room is dimly lit, damp and the stench of urine permeates the air. The sound of continuous muddled cries will awake twenty six disabled children from a restless night sharing the same bedroom. Four children will share a single metal grate bed. Instead of a mattress, they lie on a thin bamboo screen sharing a moldy pillow with their bedmates. As the morning light filters through the wood shutters, rats scurry out of the room and the care givers begin the morning rituals of changing diapers, mopping floors and cooking rice gruel. 
A handful of kids can lift their heads and sit up to greet the new day, while the immobile ones lie there with hardly a reason to open their eyes. These children will face another day of life at the Government Orphanage in Vietnam. 
Through their eyes: The room fills with light and small moving shadows. The soft cries and smells are comforting and familiar. The kitchen fragrance makes our stomachs growl with anticipation. After long boring nights, we welcome the shuffling of feet and the women in white uniforms. They will roll our stiff bodies, change soiled linens and swat flies off our bed sores.
Sometimes they are rough but we know this is how they care for us. Later they will feed us, pinch our cheeks and medicate our scabies and lice. Children across the room sit up and smile at the woman in white. She is folding a mountain of diapers and singing a happy song. Her song is music to our ears and that makes us happy too.
Sometimes they are rough but we know this is how they care for us. Later they will feed us, pinch our cheeks and medicate our scabies and lice. Children across the room sit up and smile at the woman in white. She is folding a mountain of diapers and singing a happy song. Her song is music to our ears and that makes us happy too.------------------------------------------------------------
Through our eyes: Tour groups parade through the orphanage gawking at the deformities while taking pictures. Often they leave the bed room quickly stunned by the stench and appalling circumstances. Random tourists will come in, bringing with them candy and plastic toys. They don’t realize that most of these children can not eat solid foods or maneuver their fingers to play with toys. 
Then volunteers turn up, bringing a different idealism and hopes of rehabilitation. The directors at the orphanage don’t understand why foreigners bother with these children at all. The hard working Vietnamese culture does not have the means to care for those who can not contribute to society. 
They see our work with the disabled children as, a waste of time. Many of the disfigured children were rescued and brought to this orphanage, after families had left them in the market or literally put their body outside with the trash. We value their life and eagerly attempt teaching them to sit, eat, walk and learn. Meanwhile, the government directors tolerate us, while eagerly accepting our financial support.
Through their eyes: White skin and long nose people arrive, and greet us with smiles and tears. As they wander through the room we notice they look different than us and are pleased to see something different today. We are intrigued by their presence. Others tease us with shiny packaging but our nurses always take it away. 
Sometimes we touch the colored plastic and listen to the crinkling sounds. It doesn’t matter what is inside for we will never know, but it is a gift and we are happy to receive their gift. Many of us have known far worse circumstances and we are content to have someone to look after us. Our new home is considered a role model orphanage in Vietnam and we can see the award certificates on the wall to prove it. We must be lucky! People wonder how we can stay cheerful in this place while stuck inside this twisted body, but we manage to entertain ourselves and see the simple things. We are grateful to have life. It doesn’t take much to make us happy and we laugh at someone dropping a spoon, singing a song or touching our hand. There is reason to smile every day when we don’t know anything else.
Sometimes we touch the colored plastic and listen to the crinkling sounds. It doesn’t matter what is inside for we will never know, but it is a gift and we are happy to receive their gift. Many of us have known far worse circumstances and we are content to have someone to look after us. Our new home is considered a role model orphanage in Vietnam and we can see the award certificates on the wall to prove it. We must be lucky! People wonder how we can stay cheerful in this place while stuck inside this twisted body, but we manage to entertain ourselves and see the simple things. We are grateful to have life. It doesn’t take much to make us happy and we laugh at someone dropping a spoon, singing a song or touching our hand. There is reason to smile every day when we don’t know anything else.
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Through our eyes: The disabled facilities at the orphanage are becoming overcrowded and there are not enough care givers to meet the basic needs of the children. 
We all sigh with exhausted exasperation as more disabled children and infants arrive this month. Pitiful but necessary, the children are tied to beds while meetings occur and when the staff are busy with other chores. When the essential work is done, occasionally a child will be placed in a chair walked around the room or chosen for play. There are so many children but not enough time to spend with each of them. It is heartbreaking to decide which child will get our attention and it feels like we are making ‘Sophie’s Choice’ each time we walk into the room. Only a few will get off their beds today.
We all sigh with exhausted exasperation as more disabled children and infants arrive this month. Pitiful but necessary, the children are tied to beds while meetings occur and when the staff are busy with other chores. When the essential work is done, occasionally a child will be placed in a chair walked around the room or chosen for play. There are so many children but not enough time to spend with each of them. It is heartbreaking to decide which child will get our attention and it feels like we are making ‘Sophie’s Choice’ each time we walk into the room. Only a few will get off their beds today.
Through their eyes: New roommates arrive often and occasionally someone will disappear forever. We don’t understand why, but we know that our time with the care givers is becoming limited. They don’t notice if our hand is stuck in the railing or our bedmate is scraping our face. We can’t tell them when we need help, and are sick or hungry. Still, we wait for hours hoping someone will notice that we are desperately trying to make hand or eye contact. We are children and we long for attention. 
Our existence has been reduced to a metal bed and we live for a smile, the touch of an embrace or a stimulated minute, and we wait patiently to receive them. If we are lucky, there is a chance we will leave this bed and go to a play room. And that chance is a reason to wake up today.------------------------------------------------------------
Through our eyes: The art of swallowing is a huge task for these little ones. So, much of the day is consumed in the task of feeding children. The more advanced are allowed eating in the dining hall, while the others remain in the bedroom for all their meals. The dining hall is also the storage room for excess rice. Animal feces stain the unused bags of food, and rat droppings are scattered on the floor, tables and chairs. Bowls of rice stew line the counter; some are blended and some left dry. 
Children rush into the room and eat frantically; to avoid the inevitable scolding that comes when they haven’t finished their food in time. 
If the children struggle to eat, the ‘white linen wardens’ will come. They grab spoons from the kids and begin shoveling rice into their mouths, even before they have a chance to chew. The force feeding makes them choke and cough food out, but this makes the women angry, so they try harder to swallow while tears run down their face. Rodents hover in the shadows waiting to clean up the floor. 
Children rush into the room and eat frantically; to avoid the inevitable scolding that comes when they haven’t finished their food in time. 
If the children struggle to eat, the ‘white linen wardens’ will come. They grab spoons from the kids and begin shoveling rice into their mouths, even before they have a chance to chew. The force feeding makes them choke and cough food out, but this makes the women angry, so they try harder to swallow while tears run down their face. Rodents hover in the shadows waiting to clean up the floor. 
Through their eyes: The dining hall and kitchen are spacious rooms with specialized tables. When there is electricity, fans keep the space cool. Eating is the one thing that gives us a sense of time, because it breaks up the daily monotony. But our food is boring; usually a blended mush or rice with green leaves. 
If special funding comes in, we find small bits of fish, fatty meat or tofu in our bowl. Out of 21 meals this week, the only variation of taste and texture will be on ‘ramen noodle Thursday.’ We are excited for that day and rush to eat, so that the women won’t take our food away. Those who are learning to feed themselves will have the chance to practice with volunteers. We like this and laugh together at eating games and shout our approval at each success. Sometimes a spasm will ripple through our hand or arm and food will accidentally fly across the room, but the volunteers never get upset with us. Eating is fun when they are here.
If special funding comes in, we find small bits of fish, fatty meat or tofu in our bowl. Out of 21 meals this week, the only variation of taste and texture will be on ‘ramen noodle Thursday.’ We are excited for that day and rush to eat, so that the women won’t take our food away. Those who are learning to feed themselves will have the chance to practice with volunteers. We like this and laugh together at eating games and shout our approval at each success. Sometimes a spasm will ripple through our hand or arm and food will accidentally fly across the room, but the volunteers never get upset with us. Eating is fun when they are here. ------------------------------------------------------------
Through our eyes: The padded play room has toys, colored walls and bright window views. It is by far, the best room in the orphanage and donated by the Kianh Foundation* 
This is where a few children will get one-on-one training with specialized teachers. The room is full of smiles, toys, books and learning tools. Some of the semi-mobile children are brought to this room for a few hours of fun education. Here is where they learn to count, speak, exercise and play in groups with alike children. As they advance, they will be moved to another room in the orphanage dedicated to special education. Each child is also given a physiotherapy session, to address their individual physical disability. 
The Kianh Foundation* has now financed the physiotherapy program, to include rehabilitation for all the disabled children. The program has produced astounding results in the last few years.
This is where a few children will get one-on-one training with specialized teachers. The room is full of smiles, toys, books and learning tools. Some of the semi-mobile children are brought to this room for a few hours of fun education. Here is where they learn to count, speak, exercise and play in groups with alike children. As they advance, they will be moved to another room in the orphanage dedicated to special education. Each child is also given a physiotherapy session, to address their individual physical disability. 
The Kianh Foundation* has now financed the physiotherapy program, to include rehabilitation for all the disabled children. The program has produced astounding results in the last few years.Through their eyes: We plead and hope that we won’t be left in the bed today. With legs and arms flailing, we make every attempt to be chosen for the playroom. When chosen, we stroll through the outside courtyard and see other big children at the orphanage. When they stop and talk to us, it makes us feel accepted and we long to be like them. We pass several offices squealing loudly and don’t even care when the directors scowl at us. 
We’re overjoyed with anticipation, delight and the opportunity to play. Sometimes volunteers will take us out to the swings and we feel the fresh air against our skin and watch the leaves move in the trees. Inside the play room we have snacks, listen to music and play. 
The adults get bored with our toys but it makes us happy if they’ll just amuse us. Sometimes we have to wait while the teacher is working with other children. We all watch and encourage their learning with joyful thumbs up and praise. In this room, everyone is happy and everything is upbeat and colorful. Soon we go to the new physiotherapy class. Some of us find this is painful, while others enjoy the human touch and stretch of muscles. Many friends are learning to sit, crawl and walk. When we can do these things we will have many more opportunities in life. We work hard to please our therapists and hope that someday we will grow big and have freedom like other children in the orphanage.
We’re overjoyed with anticipation, delight and the opportunity to play. Sometimes volunteers will take us out to the swings and we feel the fresh air against our skin and watch the leaves move in the trees. Inside the play room we have snacks, listen to music and play. 
The adults get bored with our toys but it makes us happy if they’ll just amuse us. Sometimes we have to wait while the teacher is working with other children. We all watch and encourage their learning with joyful thumbs up and praise. In this room, everyone is happy and everything is upbeat and colorful. Soon we go to the new physiotherapy class. Some of us find this is painful, while others enjoy the human touch and stretch of muscles. Many friends are learning to sit, crawl and walk. When we can do these things we will have many more opportunities in life. We work hard to please our therapists and hope that someday we will grow big and have freedom like other children in the orphanage. -----------------------------------------------------------
About the Artists: All four children whose art is featured here, suffer from severe handicaps, which limit their ability to operate their hands, arms, and legs. None of the children have full functioning hands or fingers and have difficulty sitting up. They have worked for hours learning how to turn on, hold the camera and use different settings. They have discovered on their own, methods of stabilizing the camera while struggling to hold themselves upright and still. They came out with great photos but lots of new bruises. The children enjoyed the project immensely and we hope you enjoy their labor of love.
VanMay is 15 years old and has been at the orphanage since he was a baby. His primary disability is CP (cerebral palsy) along with a learning disability due to the lack of stimulation for so many years. VanMay is the most determined child in the orphanage and commands his environment with a loving approach, irresistible laugh and strong arms. His size makes him difficult to handle but he manages himself while bouncing off the concrete, creating thick calluses all over his body. 
Hien is 4 years old and has been at the orphanage since she was a toddler. Her disability is undiagnosed. She can walk with help but lacks the confidence to step out by herself. She is 100% girly and spends hours with dolls, dancing to music and wanting to be held. The Kianh Foundation has corrected her cleft pallet and we hope she will begin to vocalize more in the future. Hein is a passive and happy child in every environment.
Phuoc will be 11 years old this month and has been at the orphanage for two years. His only disability is CP and he is a very clever child. His personality and pleading eyes will make you love him in an instant. He is learning verbal communication skills but needs a speech therapist to accelerate his progress. Phuoc has relatives who come to visit him at the orphanage and he is proud to share his progress reports.
Khoa is 6 years old and has been at the orphanage for almost a year. He suffers from cerebral palsy. He has no known learning disability and is making great educational progress. Khoa recently took his first walking steps alone, and literally moved himself out of the severely disabled bedroom and into a moderate care boys room this week. He is an overachiever and we expect great things from him. He is also the most joyous child we have ever met with a keen sense of humor.*The Kianh Foundation finances the physiotherapy, special education, play room, building maintenance, addl. care givers, nutrition and stimulation tools. Before the Kianh Foundation began there work at the orphanage six years ago, there was no education, no play and no physical stimulation. The children remained on their beds 24 hours a day.
You can help by contributing through:
Brian and Brenda at B&B Relief:
any branch of US Bank/ Account Name: B&B Relief /Account Number: 153657001902
Brian and Brenda are NOT a registered charity.
any branch of US Bank/ Account Name: B&B Relief /Account Number: 153657001902
Brian and Brenda are NOT a registered charity.
Or through the Kianh Foundation, a registered charity in the UK at:
http://www.kianh.org.uk/
Or through the HoiAn Foundation. This sister foundation also a registered charity in the US at: http://www.hoianfoundation.org/
Please inform us of your donation and indicate “Orphanage” when doing so
http://www.kianh.org.uk/
Or through the HoiAn Foundation. This sister foundation also a registered charity in the US at: http://www.hoianfoundation.org/
Please inform us of your donation and indicate “Orphanage” when doing so
Basic needs and quality of life for these children are important!
