On the afternoon of 13 April, at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum – 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi, the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition entitled “COLOURS OF INCLUSION: Through the lens of people with disabilities” took place. This event was organised to mark the 100th anniversary of Finland’s Independence Day and 18 years of Vietnamese Persons with Disabilities Day (18 April), by the Embassy of Finland in Hanoi in cooperation with the Center for Research and Action for Inclusive Development (IDEA). The ceremony was a success and attracted more than 200 people. Attending were Mr Ilkka-Pekka Similä, Ambassador of Finland, the Ambassador of Czechoslovakia, the Ambassador of Bulgaria… and many distinguished guests from NGOs, CSOs, representatives of associations of people with disabilities and media organisations…
From more than 1,500 photographs by 30 authors, the organisers selected the 150 most outstanding photographs, divided into 4 themes: Homeland; Daily work; Livelihoods; and A view of life, strung together like a story. Through these simple photographs, full of the texture of life, viewers could see for themselves the efforts and determination of people with disabilities in their daily lives and work. There is a woman who lost both arms yet finds every way to hoe the soil and grow vegetables; someone who has to hold a knife in their mouth to chop vegetables, slice meat and cook meals for the family; and people who lost both legs yet go up to the hills every day to pick tea and earn a living to support themselves… There were certainly many failures, but their successes in life have shone through. Above all, those images conveyed to the community the message that, just like other people, people with disabilities always strive to achieve what they want. The only difference is that for them, that effort has to be many times harder than for other people.
These photographs are full of feeling and carry the thoughts the authors wanted to express. They are genuine emotions and very everyday stories, full of love, happiness and the will to live, rich in the reality of people with disabilities’ lives, their determination and their longing to rise up and integrate, as they have always wished.
Today, they felt that, standing before their own works, they were very proud. Mr Ngo Thanh Son, a person with a disability in his arm, shared confidently: “When I hold a camera and photograph what I like, I feel I have changed a great deal. I feel life more deeply, and I feel a love of nature, of people, of the life around me, and above all of myself, awakening in me”.
“We are delighted because our purpose has been fulfilled. The photographs may seem simple, but they say a great deal. People with disabilities have not been indifferent; they know how to pay attention to the things around them. They have observed life more, to discover that there are still many new things around them. From that, they will live more optimistically” Ms Oanh – Director of IDEA, shared with us about the success of the exhibition. As a person with a disability herself, more than anyone, Ms Oanh understands that morale is very important for people with disabilities. When they feel happy, their lives will change. They enjoy working, socialising and sharing more. They will no longer think about their impairments. Photography has given people with disabilities a different view of life.
Editorial Board