For residents of a Rio de Janeiro mental institute, carnival madness means more than just fun. At a street party held this week for the patients of the Nise da Silveira Institute, 1,500 patients, staff and relatives dressed up in everything from tigers to harlequin costumes or pirates. Also invited were dozens of neighbors from the modest neighborhood of Engenho de Dentro, which is close to the stadium used in the 2016 Olympic athletics contests, but far from the usual carnival territory of southern Rio. The institute used to be named the Pedro II Psychiatric Center but was renamed after Brazil’s most famous psychiatrist, da Silveira, who died in 1999. A student of Carl Jung, she revolutionized mental health practices in Brazil, leading to the abolition of aggressive treatments like lobotomy. Instead, her methods focused on bringing patients back into society — an approach that continues today at the institute. In 2001, staff turned an existing art-therapy workshop into a “bloco,” the name for the amateur street parties that spring up all over Rio in different sizes during carnival season. Like all “blocos,” it needed a catchy name and this one was called “Loucura suburbana,” roughly translating as “Madness on the outskirts.” “The goal was to get patients involved and to help the neighborhood revitalize its carnival, since the ‘blocos’ have all gone to the tourist zones,” said Ariadne de Moura Mendes, who launched the project. Sense of freedom Before hitting the streets, everyone gathered in the courtyard in their… [Read full story]
by Hong Thuy In a 20-square-metre classroom, 15 students ranging in age from seven to 23 years are divided into two groups. One group, consisting of four members, is focused on learning how to count while the other on how to write. Xuan Tung, 23, is one of the four. Suffering from brittle bone disease, a genetic disorder characterised by fragile bones, Tung finds it difficult to cope with the demands of personal independence. Simple acts of personal care such as washing one's face, dressing, bathing and going to the toilet rank in difficulty with learning the alphabet and basic…... [read more]
Two guards from the Ho Chi Minh City Mental Institute who mistakenly seized a man at his home and took him to the hospital for treatment were sentenced on Monday in court. Dang Kinh Luan and Huynh Thanh Liem, who both worked as guards for the HCMC Mental Institute appeared before the District 3 People's Court in HCMC. Both were sentenced two years of re-education without imprisonment. According to the indictment, Luan and Liem at 11pm Jan. 29, 2005 came to the house of Do Huu Tri, 52, tied him and carried him to the hospital in a taxi. The…... [read more]
PANO – All members of the Hope Voluntary Club want to contribute to the country’s development, including bringing joy to people in rural mountainous hamlets, said Ms. Cao Thi Huong, Head of the program "Autumn in border areas – Warm sentiments". Bringing joy This time, the club’s members came to Gia Khau B hamlet, Nam Chay commune, Muong Khuong district, about 80km from the downtown of Lao Cai city, Lao Cai province. Located about 1,000m above sea level, Gia Khau B is one of the most disadvantaged localities in the Northern province and 100 per cent of its population is…... [read more]
Real Madrid bring joy to orphans Huy Nguyen By Huy Nguyen - The Saigon Times Daily Coaches from Spain’s renowned soccer team Real Madrid teamed up with local coaches to run a three-day fun football training course for 250 less fortunate children and orphans from November 7 to 9 in Vietnam. The course is part of a program whose main objective is to support public health through sports co-organized by Japanese firm YKK ASIA Group and Real Madrid Foundation all over the world. The program, which has been held in Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and…... [read more]
OMO brings joy to poor families back home for Tet Kieu Giang By Kieu Giang - The Saigon Times Daily A student of Nguyen Van Troi Elementary School in HCMC’s District 4 draws a painting to turn it into a gift box to donate to poor workers in a nationwide campaign of OMO brand during Tet - PHOTO: KIEU GIANG OMO brand of Unilever Vietnam on Thursday kicked off the first of a series of events from now until February 6 to bring happiness to poor workers who will be returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year). There is an…... [read more]
