A house in Poland where girls help each other to fight anorexia

In the middle of the countryside in the south of Poland there is a small yellow house that looks more like a dollhouse. But what happens inside is much more complicated than in dolls. Behind the doors of the front entrance of this therapeutic institution in the settlement of Malava, many girls are obsessed with the voice of "Ana", as many anorexic patients call their illness. The center, which is called Drzewo Zycia ("Tree of Life"), is a temporary shelter for a group of young women struggling with eating disorders.

"It was like a summer camp, it was 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) warm and sunny," says Danish photographer Marie Hald, who took a series of photos about life inside the house. "But, unlike the camp, everyone really suffered here and the atmosphere was often heavy." Hald found this institution through a Polish intermediary, and she was welcomed with open arms by both the community leader and the girls. The photographer captured her experience in the photo project "The Girls from Malawi", which documents the path of young patients to recovery.

(12 photos in total)

Source: CNN Photos

Karolina and Kaya quickly became friends after meeting in the Tree of Life.

Each day consists of six meals according to the schedule, as well as individual and group therapy. "Everyone was so kind, and after half a day had passed, I already started living like the other girls, eating every dish with them and doing the same as them," recalls Hald.

17-year-old Agatha has been suffering from anorexia for two years. "It all started in biology, when we were told about healthy eating and calories. I liked the feeling of power after I lost the first three kilograms. I felt isolated and could hardly talk about my feelings. For some reason, I decided that if I lost weight, it would help me find new friends. And then it all started gradually: I liked the feeling of hunger, it gave me a sense of strength. I had never lied to my parents before, but I quickly became mired in a tangle of lies and stories."

After each big meal, everyone should stay at the table for an hour so that the digestive process begins and no one tries to induce vomiting. During the day, the girls must stay on the ground floor. After eight in the evening, as soon as everyone has taken a shower, they are allowed to go upstairs to their bedrooms and go to bed.

Anya lives in the center in the same room with two other girls. "I really had no idea that models were photoshopped in magazines or that people in Hollywood often had plastic surgery."

Despite the fact that Marie Hald had never suffered from eating disorders herself, the photographer saw herself in the girls she met. Like her, many were excellent students, had good friends, were friendly and sociable. Facebook instagrammed itself before the era of social networks, before Instagram and Facebook, and without apps capable of editing life and body to a perfect state with just one click. The photographer asks the question: "How would I survive this?"

Breakfast is the only meal when the girls in the center can choose what they will eat. Kaya decides what to add to her yogurt.

The author of the photo project realizes that it is impossible to meet false standards, but many girls think only about becoming "perfect" in their view.

Agatha and Victoria play guitars, and Anya sings. All three are big fans of singer Demi Lovato, who herself suffered from an eating disorder. When Anya is sad, Demi Lovato's music helps.

Through his photographs, Hald seeks to provoke the world into discussion. "Many of my colleagues looked at the photos and said: "Wow, she's beautiful, she looks like a model." And then you start to think about what our true idea of beauty is," the photographer explains.

Breaks between meals and therapy sessions often take place on the lawn.

The girls were excited about the project. They hope that they will help spread knowledge and raise awareness about the problem of eating disorders, which affects approximately 70 million men and women around the world. Hald notes that eating disorders are a big social problem, and it's not just about the desire to be slim, but more about the desire to become perfect in all aspects of life. Every day these girls listen to the encouraging words of nurses and therapists in the hope that they will never hear the voice of "Ana" again in their lives.

Caroline has her head on the table while the other girls are reading or doing crosswords.

Agatha is resting on the grass after breakfast. She worries about her recovery and tries to focus on life goals. She wants to become a photographer and get to Adele's concert.

"There is a dark side inside me. I call her "Ana"," says Kaya. She imagines anorexia as a voice in her head.

Karolina and Kaya have gone to bed together and are reading magazines at night.

Caroline is sitting with her teddy bear waiting for dinner. Only two hours a week are allowed to use mobile phones, and she misses her boyfriend and her parents.

Kaya and Natalia hug on their last day at the rehabilitation center. Kaya was nervous about her departure. She was worried about what life would be like without a daily meal schedule and therapy sessions.