Childhood is something no one can choose.

Contest Entry Code: bae3a5ce19234170bca6ba7b7934fb8a

Unit: Individual

Place of creation: Phường Ea Kao, Đắk Lắk, Việt Nam

"Childhood is something no one can choose." That saying suddenly came to mind as I took this photo during a volunteer trip to a poor ethnic minority area in Dak Lak. That day, I stood in the middle of a dusty red dirt road, surrounded by dilapidated houses. Amidst that scene, a pair of small eyes looked at me – clear, innocent, yet tinged with an unnamed sadness. In this place, the children's childhood is tied to bare, mud-stained feet, worn-out thin clothes, and dreams never spoken aloud. I know I can't choose their childhood. But I believe that every outstretched hand, every bit of love given, will be a paving stone on a less bumpy road to their future. This photo is not just a moment I captured, but a reminder: Be grateful for what you have, and don't forget to share with those less fortunate. Because perhaps, just one small act of ours today… will become the most beautiful memory of someone's childhood tomorrow.