More than 80% of children have experienced scolding, and nearly 55% have been beaten or struck at home. These figures from the 2024 survey report by MSD highlight that many children still face domestic violence.
In response to this situation, to raise awareness among parents, stakeholders, and the public about eliminating both physical and psychological violence against children, MSD United Way Vietnam, in collaboration with Director and Artist La Zung, MC and Poet Lieu Ha Trinh, along with more than 20 artists, experts, and partnering organizations and sponsors, organized the exhibition Vai “A” Lan. The exhibition not only re-explores the theme of domestic violence but also creates an opportunity for the audience to experience and raise awareness about this issue through art.
Vai “A” Lan is a wordplay, both in Vietnamese and English, referring to "violence" (in English) and the painful scream of "A" from those who suffer from violence.
The performances presented include: Improvised MV "Lam loi khong mau" (Directed by Artist La Zung); Improvised movement "Ngay xua bo me cung the ma co sao dau?" (Artists Le Mai Anh, Le Chi Nguyen, and Ly Tri An); Improvised poetry reading with spinning bell therapy "Suy nghi be doi" (Poet Lieu Ha Trinh, Artisan Hoang Tuyet Mai); Improvised poetry reading "Mot tu” (Poet Nam Thi); Improvised dance "Thuong cho roi cho vot, ghet cho ngot cho bui" (Artists La Zung, Do Hai Anh, Dinh Uy); Improvised movement "May thay con nha nguoi ta chua?" (Artist Lyon); Improvised movement "Ban do do" (Artist Nhi Le…); Consultation play "Qua khu lang quen: buoc vao phien tham van" (Dr./Psychologist Educator Le Nguyen Phuong)
As a partner organization, particularly receiving financial support from the contributions and revenue of the exhibition for the implementation of the campaign "Spreading Love – Love Pushes Back Violence," Tran Van Anh, Co-founder of MSD United Way Vietnam, shared: "Spreading Love is an annual initiative/campaign by MSD aimed at raising awareness and educating the community on preventing domestic violence, with a focus on activities that encourage the joint participation of stakeholders including government agencies, social organizations, educational institutions, teachers, parents/caregivers, and especially the children themselves in creating a non-violent environment for children. Parents still accept hitting and scolding as a form of education. Therefore, to create a safe environment for children at home, parents and caregivers need to eliminate all forms of physical and mental punishment, as no educational method should be 'disguised' under violence. Implementing positive (non-violent) educational methods is essential to effectively teach children without leaving any harm. Listening and understanding are the keys to supporting and connecting with children. This way, parents or caregivers can easily and promptly assist children when problems arise without leaving any regrettable consequences. Spreading Love is very happy and honored to accompany the Vai “A” Lan exhibition, and we hope that through the artistic performances and real, interactive experiences, the audience will gain a deeper understanding of domestic violence, allowing them to prevent, support, and contribute to ending all forms of violence and building warm, happy, and loving families."
ChSharing about the goal of the exhibition, Director and Artist La Zung, the initiator and founder of the activity, stated: “Domestic violence is a social issue that spans across periods, but it is gradually being normalized. With my personal experience, I hope to change perceptions and break the cycle of violence across generations, helping people understand and forgive those who are unaware of their violent behavior.”