VietNamNet Bridge - The nightmare of street life impressed 15-year-old Le Thi Thu Ha so strongly that she used it as the subject for a painting that won second prize at a competition.

A teacher instructs students to solve a math problem at HCM City’s Nguyen Van Troi Primary School. A recent campaign was launched to draw attention to the need to minimise physical and emotional abuse of children, as many live in fear of abuse. Many others are forced to quit school to help support their families at a young age.

The painting depicts a little girl huddled in a street corner. She had to leave her family because her mother forced her to do so much housework, such as cleaning and washing. She stoops in the chilly wind and feels surrounded by ghosts.

“I am luckier than many others as I enjoy love from my parents. However, I have several friends who are in the same situation as the little girl. I understand their sadness,” says Ha.

“One of my friends had to give up her studies to help her mother do family business. I do not know how to help her.”

The painting competition was part of a project aimed at overcoming the physical and emotional maltreatment of children.

It was jointly organised by Plan Viet Nam and the Youth Union in eight cities and provinces, including Ha Noi, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen and Quang Tri.

Ha is one of many participants who has revealed her feelings in a world of colours and dreams.

Most of the paintings show sad lives and family violence, but also expectations of a world of love.

Learn without fear

A campaign “Learn without Fear” was launched at Cat Linh Primary School in Ha Noi on Saturday by Plan Viet Nam and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to draw attention to the need to minimise physical and emotional punishment on children.

Deputy Minister Phung Ngoc Hung said the campaign encouraged teachers to apply positive educational methods and to ensure that children were protected from physical and emotional punishment.

The campaign aims to make adults understand that a friendly school is the dream of all pupils, and that the only way to build up this model is with true love and understanding of child psychology and wishes.

According to a survey in 2005, 94 per cent of 500 little participants reported that they received physical and emotional punishment at home and 93 per cent reported the same at school.

More than 80 per cent of children said they were beaten on the whole body. Almost all of them accepted their mistakes, but in some cases they didn’t know the reason for punishment. Sometimes they felt unfair but had no chance to explain.

Headmaster of Luong The Vinh Secondary School Van Nhu Cuong, who is the goodwill ambassador for the programme, said the rod would never convert children.

“Teachers’ punishment on children not only violates laws, but also expresses their weak capacity in education,” said Cuong.

Cuong said some teachers still showed bad manners and acted outrageously towards students, while some students treated their friends as enemies and attacked them with sticks and canes, even knives.

“To prevent violence in school, it is necessary to prevent violence in the family first,” he said.

(Source: VNS)