VietNamNet Bridge - The story about the past, present and dreams of the women who had been sexually exploited are reproduced through the photos taken by themselves, with the support of photographers.

Plan International and the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women, and Adolescents (CSAGA) organized their “My Life, My Dream” photo exhibition in Hanoi on October 11-13 at the National Library.

The event is a response to International Children Day and the “Because I am a Girl” campaign. The exhibition’s 45 photos offer glimpses into the lives, the suffering, and the bravery of human trafficking and domestic abuse victims.

Below are some photos at the exhibition:

"If rain was small, I used an umbrella, if rain was heavy, I wore a raincoat... Whatever the weather was, despite thunderstorms, I still need money to live," Hong, 25 -year-old, said about her "sexual service provision job.”

 "This is the necessary tool for our job. I always wish that my customers understand it," Mai wrote with a photograph of a condom.

 A girl shot the massage parlous where she used to work for.

A passersby stops to ask, what's the everyday experience of street women.

At 2am, this girl just returned home after work. She always came home at this time. Photo by photographer Na Son.

"My customers are of all kinds, some were elegant, some were cruel, some smoked, some called us after they felt high after taking drugs...," Lien told about unhappy things in her job.

The photo of the sick adoptive mother of Lanh. Her parents died when she was only 14 years old. Since then, Lanh lived with her adoptive mother. In the past few years, the woman has suffered from neurological disease. She lost control of her behavior, including bowel.

"Although this is the shadow of my boyfriend, seeing it I still shudder. It reminds me the hideous image and the great shadow of the man who abused me when I was 14," Lanh, 21, said.

The two sons of Mai, 23, live with her mother in the countryside. “The children are my motivation to live and feel more meaningful in this life," Mai said and shared her own photo shoot.

"I sit with my friend with the legs stretching out very comfortable. These legs, a few years ago, were chained by myself to help stop my drug addiction. It is still very scarey whenever I think about it," Hien, 21, said.

"I followed this couple and their child like being mesmerized. That woman has a husband to be loved and protected, the child has a father to be taught and cared. If it was me, not anyone else, sitting after that motorbike," Luyen, 23, talked about her simple dream through her photo shoot on the street.

A lesson in hair-making classroom at the 20/10 vocational training school. "If I can make such the hair, my skills will be enough to open a hairdressing salon. I wish I would have a shop of my own, enough to feed myself," Luyen said.

Having a family is the dream of almost women, including street workers. "I've met a good man. He accepted my past. I look forward to marry him," Le said.

The 11-month-old boy crawled after his mother and aunt whenever the two women go to work. “My son is 11 months old, very active. He crawls very quickly," Le said of her photo shoot.

"I saw a sidewalk tea seller on Le Thach Street. She just has a simple job that gives her time to care for her children. That simple happiness is that not everyone can have," said Hanh, 26.

Lan, 23 year old, is playing with her son. This is the happiness of this woman who does the scorned job.

P. Lan