On March 9, the annual Seeds of Hope charity concert of Yew Chung Education Foundation premiered in the theatre of Yew Wah International Education School of Tongxiang. More than 200 teachers and students from 12 Yew Chung and Yew Wah campuses, including Tongxiang, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Yantai, Qingdao, Chongqing and Silicon Valley in the United States gathered in Tongxiang and set off a scene of musical festival to all Yew Chung and Yew Wah students and parents through online live.

Dr Betty Chan, Director of Yew Chung Education Foundation, has elaborated on the original intention and goal of organizing a charity concert. “Seeds of Hope project was initiated because of 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. At that time, all Yew Chung and Yew Wah students wanted to help those who suffered in the disaster as much as possible. They raised money and rebuilt a Seeds of Hope Primary School in Sichuan. Then I was thinking ‘Why can’t we do such a charity every year? Why can’t we establish a sister relationship with another school by raising money to help it?’ I hope that all students in Yew Chung and Yew Wah schools can make their contributions to the society by using their talents and raising money to help other children.”

Then every year we have a common goal – to set up a school through charity performances, so that our students can visit regularly and systematically, and provide them with the courses and services they really need.

Since the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, Yew Chung Education Foundation has raised funds for students in poverty-stricken areas for ten years by means of charity performance, sales and more than 300 “Seeds of Hope” charity fund-raising activities. We have funded Seeds of Hope School in Sichuan, Hebei, Shandong and other provinces.

Now, Seeds of Hope project has reached a farther place, the Philippines, where a new seed is buried and a Seeds of Hope School is preparing to build.

"Through Seeds of Hope, our students develop an increased gratitude to the blessings they have, an increased empathy for the suffering of others, and opportunity to engage in projects that help bring healing to the world – gratitude that leads to empathy that produces engagement!,” said Stephen Hackman, Head of Christian & Community Development.

This concert not only staged small-scale performances including dancing, drama, classical folk music, but also included large-scale stage presentations such as world-class orchestra and chorus which was performed by teachers and students from 12 campuses. Congratulations on the success of the concert!