Daniele Mattioli - Street Kids in Vietnam

September 9th, 2008 | 1 Comment

Intro

Rather than the usual introduction, here is a brief interview with the photographer.

How did you come to take these photographs?

I was travelling for 6 months in Indochina, and I decided to start my trip of Vietnam. I was traveling from north to south, and in Hanoi I met the people of Koto, an organization which helps street children get a better life. KOTO teaches them how to become chefs, waitresses and to work in the hospitality industry. They put me on in many situations, so I decided to do a project focusing on this social problem while travelling from Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). It was a two month trip and I encountered many different places and sites where the problem is visible. Indeed I wanted to focus on this topic as it is rarely mentioned in media. Most of the media are talking about Cambodia (where they surely have many problems) but they are not saying much about Vietnam.

What individual stories would you like to share?

I have learned a lot. Photography for me is an excuse to go deep in people’s lives. I visited a prison for youth. I went there with Koto; they helped me to get inside as a volunteer (photographers and media people are not allowed). I saw 800 kids living in bad conditions, in jail because of small crimes. Many of them have AIDS. They don’t even have parents to visit them. I started to do some photos but I left with the idea to shoot more, and I helped KOTO to donate some presents and do some activities for them. I spoke with one of the most violent ones in there. He was not social to others and they had me sit near him during the dinner. It was good to talk to him and in the end I was listening to him. He looked strong but but sensitive inside. That day was a day to remember for me. It was Christmas day (the most useful Christmas day I ever had).

What are one or two positive outcomes for these kids to hope for?

In particular I heard some positive stories, thanks to many NGO’s and volunteers. I saw kids working in some big hotels, becoming good chefs. They understand where they are from and can start a new life.

What are two or three of the main obstacles?

For sure one problem is the government which does not help these volunteers. It does not help the society. Of course, there is a cultural problem which also reflects some issues from the war which left many poor farmers without much hope. Some of the kids are also abandoned by their families, because there is not enough food and money to keep them. Some are born with the agent orange syndrome. They are not useful for their parents to work the land, so they are left on the street of the city.

(The photographer worked with an NGO in Vietnam. KOTO Street Voices was founded by Jimmy Phan, an Australian-Vietnamese man. The purpose of the organization is to help improve the lives of street kids. For more information, see: www.streetvoices.com.au .)

About the photographer

Daniele Mattioli is an Italian photographer based in Shanghai. He has previously lived and worked in Toronto, Vienna and Sydney. He relocated to Shanghai in 2004.

He travels frequently across China and Asia for editorial projects and assignments. His work ranges from chronicling the Australian outdoor lifestyle to documenting the lives of orphans in Vietnam.

He has been represented by Agency Anzenberger in Vienna since 1995.

The photographer’s website: www.danielemattioli.com

The bottom of the page

This gallery will be on display for two weeks, because tomorrow I leave for Cambodia and don’t have time to arrange next week’s show in advance.

I hope you’ll appreciate the photos in this series as much as I do. The photos are eye-catching with bold lines and vivid colors; and they also reveal an important story.

FYI, last week I gave anyone interested the opportunity to donate toward the communities I’ll visit on this trip. The details are posted here. I haven’t received any donations yet. Maybe I need to adjust my pitch. If you’re still interested, feel free to send a gift and I’ll pass 100 percent of it along to people who will use it well.

Once again, the purpose of this gallery is to present different faces and perspectives of people and life around the world. Your comments and conversations are welcome. If you like what you see, please sign up for our email list so you won’t miss any future exhibitions!

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