An American high school student holds a photo exhibition on Vietnamese AO victims

On October 19, at the Supreme Trading Cultural Exhibition Center in Brooklyn, New York County, support and encouragement came from family and friends, Sam Moehrke, an American high school student, came to the team. photo exhibition function entitled ' Pain and smiles '.

The exhibition exhibits photographs of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange / dioxin by photographer Doan Duc Minh, member of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA).

Photo exhibition has attracted the participation of many American friends, especially students, because this is the first time an American student of a very young generation holds a photo exhibition on the consequences of skin toxins. orange / dioxin for Vietnamese people today.

The photo in the exhibition ' Pain and smiles '. (Photo: TTO)

Talking to reporters, Sam said he had just turned 18 this year and was in his last year of Charter School Public High School in Providence, Rhode Island. The idea of ​​organizing a photo exhibition on victims of Agent Orange / dioxin formed during Sam's first trip to Vietnam in late February and early March.

During his time in Vietnam, Sam was taken by his dear friend, photographer Doan Duc Minh, to visit many different countryside, met and talked with the people with the original purpose of studying technology. photography and culture, serving as a final project.

Sam was really touched when he saw the photos of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange / dioxin that Mr. Minh took from 2001 to 2005. Images of Vietnamese friends who are of the same age as Sam due to dioxin poisoning / dioxin but unable to walk or without hands, having to use his feet to write has left Sam deep impressions.

After returning to America and sharing this feeling with friends, Sam decided to organize a photo exhibition on Agent Orange / dioxin victims to help Americans, especially the younger generation, understand more about Sequelae of war. According to Sam, the organization of a lively photo exhibition in the US will be the most effective way to reduce the pain and loss that victims of Agent Orange / dioxin are suffering.

Sam said all the money raised and collected from the sale of the photo book ' Pain and smiles ' will be used to help Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange / dioxin. Sam also plans to continue holding exhibitions at his school or other cities like San Francisco in California and Albany, the state capital of New York.

Speaking at the opening of the photo exhibition, Ms. Merle Ratner, Co-Chair of the Relief Campaign and Responsibility for the Vietnamese Agent Orange / Dioxin (VAORR Campaign), expressed her emotion when studying. American students of the young generation like Sam born after the war wanted to share the pain with Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange / dioxin. On this occasion, Ratner called on the American people to strengthen efforts to assist Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange / dioxin.

According to the photographer Doan Duc Minh, the main purpose of the photo exhibition ' Pain and smiles ' in New York this time is for the American people to better understand the war with the pain and loss that is present. Vietnamese people are still suffering. Mr. Minh said that when he saw the black and white photos depicting the pain and loss of Agent Orange / dioxin victims, many American friends could not hold back their tears. Love and sharing are the motivation for them to fulfill their wish to organize a photo exhibition ' Pain and smiles ' right in America. Exhibitions in New York will last for 7 days.