Da Nang, VIETNAM

100CAMERAS X HOPE THERAPY CENTER

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

During the Spring of 2020, 4 students learned to tell their stories through 100cameras X Hope Therapy Center in Vietnam. In partnership with the Hope Therapy Center that works to address the need for therapeutic resources for children with disabilities. Many families in the area have little to no support, equipment, or guidance for navigating the support they need. Additionally, the majority of these children are unable to obtain an education as the local schools are not equipped with the necessary facilities and assistance.

Not only does the Hope Therapy Center provide families free and professional therapy services, it supports them with a safe space - one where the children can participate in learning, socialization, play and fun. Hope Center is more than a building, it’s a community in which children know they are fully accepted and loved.

“The program was so beneficial to our organization because the class addresses so many of the things we try to work on with our kids during a therapy session, so it was really nice to use such a fun and meaningful class to work on social skills, communication skills, emotional and behavioral regulation, attention, direction-following, and much more.

This was the first time any of them had ever had a chance to share something that they did and get public recognition for it.”

— Caroline Mrowiec, Director, Hope Therapy Center

“One of our students has very limited communication. She is incredibly sweet and motivated in therapy, so I really wanted her to join the class, but was worried about how she might do, because I knew she wouldn't be able to understand the material in the same way,” reflects Caroline Mrowiec, Director of Hope Therapy Center. “We were able to adapt all of the activities to allow her to participate on some level, and she was able to independently take photos on her own. She has never been to school and therefore doesn't have friends or the responsibilities a teenager would typically have. I think the impact of this class on her cannot be overemphasized. She was our most enthusiastic participant…It made just as deep of an impact on her to be able to do it to her ability level. She was able to grow in the same ways I think the program tries to grow students: getting a chance to tell her story, create something of her own, be empowered that she has a voice. Additionally, she got to have the responsibility of being a member of the class and take care of her camera, have a hobby, be with peers, and be treated like a teenager.”

“Over the course of this program, I witnessed each of the four students grow and extend - both in their demonstrated confidence to compose photographs as well as their confidence to participate and share with the class.

Prior to our class, Đạt was very shy - never wanting to answer questions or speak in front of the group. By the end of the program, he was eager to share his photos. He quickly caught on to utilizing different points of view, had no fear in approaching people to take their picture, and displayed an affinity for images of flowers using flash. Đạt’s occupational therapist was very encouraged by his progress and interest in capturing the world around him.”

— Kelly Johnson, Program Leader

ABOUT THE PROGRAM LEADERS

Caroline Mrowiec is the occupational therapist and director at Hope Therapy Center. She expressed how honored she felt to work with Kelly Johnson and 100cameras and reflected on how she found the program curriculum and instructions to be perfectly in line with her clients' therapy goals. Caroline witnessed the power of meaningful occupational therapy impact the students' cognitive, social, emotional and behavioral skills, all through the 100cameras class. Participating in this class felt like a personal gift and she loved seeing the children she cares about get to experience, grow, and feel valued in ways they never had before.

Kelly Johnson is a storyteller who aims to create photographs and films that educate, inform, and connect individuals and communities by drawing attention to one another's shared humanity. She currently lives in Da Nang, Vietnam with her husband and baby girl. This was her third 100cameras Program, for which she feels deeply grateful. Leading these programs has been an incredible opportunity to combine her background in social work, nonprofit photography, and teaching with her passion to walk alongside individuals as they unearth the value in their story, widen their perspective of the value in the stories around them, and improve their ability to effectively photograph and share these stories with others. Witnessing the Hope Center Program students who due to lack of resources and limitations have never had the opportunity to go to school or participate in extracurricular activities, revel in and thoroughly enjoy their cameras reacquainted Kelly with the absolute gift that is photography. Kelly reflected, “Giving a student the gift of photography is the equivalent of saying, ‘Here, take this and tell me your story as you see it. Your version of life is valuable, your voice deserves amplification and I cannot wait to learn from you.’”