Cancer is a word, not a sentence. 
With every 1€, you can help sick kids in Zaporuka, Ukraine.

“The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step"

What makes you passionate about helping Zaporuka?

About a year ago with winter slowly coating the city, the mother of a close friend of mine passed away after almost four years of fighting cancer. It was 33,072 hours or 1,984,320 minutes that she had to suffer severe pain, with lots of tubes for transfusions, toxins, and chemical radiation. In her last days, fortunately, she witnessed all of the important changes in life. Her husband learned how to take care of the house. Her son achieved a career, and her daughter - a friend of mine - got married and was pregnant.

She believed that when life closes a door, it will open another door. “Be beautiful and fresh, that is how our farewell is supposed to be”. The mother guided the whole family throughout 1,378 days of fighting cancer with the most cheerful face. Upset or happy, finally, it is just a change of attitude.

12 years ago, in 2007 in Hanoi (Vietnam) together with two friends, I found a volunteer group called Blog Hanoi. Since then we have organized a lot of charity projects, auctions, and fundraisings to support disabled children, children born with heart disease, cancer patients, and old people in Vietnam who suffer from leprosy.

So, for me, Zaporuka - CENTER FOR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY CANCER in Kyiv and Lviv, Ukraine is doing the same thing as we do in Vietnam - helping seriously ill children every day with all our hearts and efforts.

How do you believe your photography can make a difference for them?

To me, photography is a way of touching and loving. Doing the charity work since 2007, working as a journalist for 13 years, and later, studying the medium of photography professionally, I have a deep diversity in the ability to photograph and to feel. In my mind's eye, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality. The audiences will perceive "the humanity of the moment" in my work.

What message would you like to send to your supporters?

When preparing for any change, I often think about the wise words from the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi: “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

Do something, start working, take the very first small step - and gently, your journey to become better and different will begin.

And may all the changes you awaited or worked for so long bring joy and satisfaction into your lives. Because life needs your experience, your wisdom, changes, and your love.

WITH EVERY 1€ DONATED, YOU CAN HELP SICK KIDS IN ZAPORUKA, UKRAINE.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much!

Phuong Hoang

phuong-hoang.com
Instagram

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About PWB

Photographers Without Borders® (PWB) envisions a world where we all put ourselves in each others' shoes and work together. Our mission is to inform and inspire positive change by visually communicating the ways that grassroots initiatives are addressing problems in their communities. PWB is registered as a charity in the United States with 501(c)(3) status and is registered as a not-for-profit organization in Canada.

Every year, our photographers and videographers donate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of their time to document the work of grassroots initiatives that are making a real change in this world where it is most needed. By capturing, honoring and witnessing humanity at its best, we are not only inspiring many, but we are forging new narratives of what is and what is possible.

Each of our official photographers/videographers are assigned a GroupRev fundraising page by PWB upon acceptance. These pages are a privilege we offer that are intended to make our programs accessible to all and enable our volunteer photographers/videographers to raise their program fees and subsidize or cover these necessary project-related expenses:

• Airfare
• Visa's
• Vaccinations
• Health Insurance
• Travel Insurance

We are a community of storytellers uniting to support our community partners on volunteer assignments through the PWB Program, and inspire new generations of storytellers through PWB School and our other initiatives and resources. Our mission is to make storytelling more accessible for communities around the world who are contributing to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and UNDRIP. PWB is registered as a charity in the United States with 501(c)(3) status and is registered as a not-for-profit organization in Canada. All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.

PWB is not responsible for any donations made outside of these pages.

Any overage amounts raised on GroupRev will be donated and disbursed 50/50, between the Associate's assigned cause and PWB.

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY!

Learn more about PWB.

All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.