A Place Called Home: A Village of Quiet Courage
This is a village for children from disadvantaged backgrounds — a place I had the chance to visit. Behind the Smiles: The Real Work of Loving Kindness in a Village.
This is a village for children from disadvantaged backgrounds — a place I had the chance to visit. The space is lush and green, with wide playgrounds where the children laugh and play freely. Each house is home to a family: one volunteer mother and six to eight children from different places, who come together and call each other brothers and sisters.
Each child carries a unique story — lives that many might label as “unfortunate.” But to me, I think more about karma and the idea that every soul here is present to learn their own life lesson. The village manager I met shared that he loves this work, believing that in a past life he had a “debt,” and now he’s here to learn alongside his extended family.
There are many sweet fruits in this village. Each one is built as a cluster of 15–20 airy homes surrounded by gardens. A typical house includes a living room that doubles as a communal space, a kitchen, and three bedrooms — one for the mother, one for the girls, and one for the boys. Every home is a warm shelter where the mother and children care for and love one another.
Most villages have their own school, welcoming both children from the village and those from nearby communities. The children learn life skills through extracurricular activities and cultural exchanges. Many grow up and go on to work around the world. Some return to contribute to the village that raised them.
Beyond the financial challenges — as the global organization no longer receives abundant sponsorship — the managers also face deep psychological wounds carried by the children from their past families. The mental health of the volunteer mothers also needs care and support. There are still many difficult issues in the village: harsh words, early sexual experiences, violence… and the global organization continues to seek ways to address them.
I only spent about 180 minutes in the village, yet I felt a heavy weight in my heart — sensing how deeply I resonated with the energy of this place.
Leaving the village, I felt truly moved by the generosity of the people working there. Day after day, they face the deep emotional scars of each resident, yet remain committed to nurturing life in the village.
Sending blessings to everyone in the village. A new week has begun.
Photo: Nguyễn Vũ Nhất Huy