Volunteers cheer patients with portraits

Some 170 volunteers and photographers took part in a non-profit event on December 6 launched by Help-Portrait Vietnam to take photos of disadvantaged people in Hanoi.
Some 170 volunteers and photographers took part in a non-profit event onDecember 6 launched by Help-Portrait Vietnam to take photos ofdisadvantaged people in Hanoi.

This is the fifth time the event has been held in Vietnam since 2010.

Begunby photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help-Portrait is a community gatheringof photographers throughout the world who are prepared to help othersusing their cameras and talent.

This year, Help-Portrait Hanoimembers met in the morning of December 6 at the National Institute ofHematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) in the capital.

Also inHanoi on December 6, a Help-Portrait event took place at two hospitals:NIHBT and K Hospital. About 1,000 patients and their relatives had theirphotos taken at the hospital, including some 300 children and 600adults, five times more than last year. About 1,200 photos were printedand given to the patients on the same day.

Volunteers includeamateur and professional photographers, as well as a number of youngpeople who help with logistics at the event.

"Help-Portraitevents were held, not only in Vietnam, but in nearly 60 countriesthroughout the world. It's an excellent idea. This event not only bringsjoy to unlucky people whose photos are taken. But this activity alsobring joy to the volunteers and photographers like us, who can meet andhelp them," said Nguyen Viet Hung (nicknamed Lekima Hung), head of thegroup Help-Portrait Hanoi.

Volunteers also offered gifts to children in the hospitals.

"Iam happy to have a photo taken of me. When I was at home, I only seldomhad a photo taken. It was my sister who took a photo of me, but thephoto was not as beautiful as this one. Everyone says I am handsome,"said Hoang Duc Huong, 13, from Lang Son, who is being treated for whiteblood cell problems.

He could not hide his joy when holding the photo in his hand.

Volunteers donating their time are also happy to participate.

"Thisis the first time I have taken part in this event. I was a bit anxious,because I did not know if I could take beautiful photos of them. Theevent is very meaningful, it is a small gift to help them have morecourage to fight their diseases," said 29 year-old Nguyen Anh Tuan.

"Thephotos can be helpful for them. I've heard of some people whose photostaken by Help Portrait would be the last photo of their lives, and werepreserved by their families," he added.

December 6 was the third time Dao Thi Hoang Yen took part in the event, and she always arrives very motivated.

"WhenI met children at the hospitals, I was saddened to see some childrenwho could not even leave their beds because of their illnesses. When Itook photos of them, I was glad to see their smiles. The photos bringthe smiles to children and I am touched by the meaning of this event,"she said.

On December 6, besides in Hanoi, Help-Portrait eventswere also held in 12 other cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai,Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Binh Phuoc, and Can Tho.

The work ofHelp-Portrait volunteers is expected to continue at the Vietnam NationalHospital of Pediatrics and Ha Cau's Orphan Centre in Hanoi inmid-December.

The festival first took place in 2010 in HCM Cityand, since then, has expanded nationwide. Last year, over 9,000 imageswere printed.-VNA

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