A SMALL VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NEPAL IS THE LOCATION OF A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN. 

IN THE NEPALESE CULTURE BEING "DIFFERENT" IS NOT ACCEPTED. 

CHILDREN WHO ARE BORN WITH A MENTAL, PHYSICAL OR GENETIC DEFECT ARE DUMPED AT HOSPITALS. THE SHAME OF HAVING A HANDICAPPED CHILD IS THE GREATEST HUMILIATION IMAGINABLE. 

EVEN BEING BORN WITH A SHORTAGE OF PIGMENT IS A REASON TO BE SEEN AS OUTCAST. HEALTHY ALBINO CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP AMONGST SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS. IN THIS PARTICULAIR HOSPITAL THERE IS JUST ONE GIRL IN CHARGE OF TWENTY CHILDREN . AT THE AGE OF SEVENTEEN SHE DOES NOT HAVE A MEDICAL BACKGROUND, SO THE PATIENTS DO NOT GET MEDICATED. 

BESIDES THE STENCH OF URINE AND FECES, THE SCREAMS AT NIGHT WILL SEND SHIVERS DOWN ANYONES SPINE. 

 

MITCHELL: 

 

“I SHOT THIS SERIES AT A VILLAGE IN THE SINDHUPALCHOWK DISTRICT. 

I WAS IN NEPAL TO SHOOT THE NATURAL DEVASTATION OF THE FIRST EARTHQUAKE  (APRIL 25TH 2015) AND ONCE I HAD ENOUGH FOOTAGE, I DECIDED TO SPEND MY SPARE TIME IN THIS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. 

ON THE DAY OF DEPARTURE MY DRIVER HAD AN EMERGENCY AND HAD TO GET BACK TO KATHMANDU A LITTLE EARLIER THAN PLANNED. 

AN HOUR AFTER WE LEFT THE VILLAGE THE SECOND MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE HIT NEPAL. THE SINDHUPALCHOWK DISTRICT WAS AMONGST THE WORST HIT AREAS. LANDSLINDES TOOK DOWN MOST OF THE HOUSES. THE ONLY BRICK BUILDING THAT WAS STILL STANDING WAS THE HOSPITAL.”