This is a marvellous place and I have delightful session. About 10 children aged 6-13 drift gradually in to the art room where I have elected to work. All activities here are voluntary. I would become maudlin if I described the children – beautiful, homeless. They come to the centre when they want. It is calm, warm, positive. There are cushions to rest on, board games to play. The staff support the children in every way they can; back to school if they wish, medical care, informal 1-1 lessons and activities. I chat to the student social worker ( a new course -the first of its kind in Vietnam) who is about to accompany a 14 year old girl with a serious disease to the hospital. The child’s mother is dead and her father has a serious mental illness. Children here are offered a healthy meal daily. One of the older children who is training to be a chef cooks for all. A child sits beside me and serves me and I feel somehow this is redolent of Christmas day. Staff and children eat together. Not Li though; he doesn't go upstairs to eat.
Silent, beautiful Li who looks like a three year old girl but is a seven year old boy listens wide eyed to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. He sits solemnly as the miniature play shopping basket is passed around. I sense a hush and attention as the basket is passed to him. They can't get him to eat. Will he play? He is so small his chin just comes up to above the table top. He reaches for the basket. Li, what would you like? A banana (show) or an orange? Did he speak? Yes he did. A quiet murmur in hesitant English and pointing. He has chosen the plastic egg and the plastic banana for his shopping basket. He carefully places them on his paper plate. Later he colours in a butterfly in pinks, purples and greens and we display it on the wall. I have been involved for years in this kind of work in England. Here it takes on a whole new meaning. The children, it appears, haven't had stories read to them before.