BBQ to raise funds for children of convicts

The NGO Morning Tears, which assists the children of convicts, will host a fundraising BBQ, featuring Belgian food and beer, at the Belgian embassy's garden from noon until 5:30 pm on Saturday, June 11.

The event will also feature exhibitions and the screening of a documentary about the organization's Children's Village, sales of children's drawings and live music.

The organization - which in 2010 won the China Charity Award, the country's No 1 honor for nonprofit organizations - has since 1999 helped children whose parents are in prison or have been executed. Social stigma keeps relatives from caring for about half of these children in China, the NGO's founder Koen Sevenants says.

There is no safety net to catch these children, because they technically aren't orphans and therefore don't qualify for government assistance. Many of the 600,000 children of convicts end up as "street kids", Sevenants explains.

Food and drinks will be provided by Morel's, The Tree and Nearby the Tree restaurants. Tickets at the door cost 130 for children and 220 yuan for adults.

Charity puts cinemas in schools for poor kids

Huayi Brothers, the country's largest private entertainment group, launched its own charity foundation on June 1 in Beijing. The first project will provide free films for children from impoverished families.

The company promised in 2008 that 0.1 yuan (1.5 US cents) from every ticket it sold would go to charity. Now, in cooperation with the China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, it will use the money to build small cinemas in selected schools for the children to enjoy free movies. The cinemas will also have toys, books and computers that are free for the children to use.

The company's president Wang Zhonglei (pictured) says all Huayi employees will have four additional paid days off a year to do charity work.

Film festival contest offers 1 million yuan to winner

The 2nd Xi'an International Images Festival is offering a prize of 1 million yuan ($147,000) to celebrate independent motion picture culture.

Initiated by Shaanxi Culture Industry Investment Holding Group, the annual event is committed to expanding the concepts of film and video practices, such as commercials, short films, wedding videos and cartoons.

The jury comprises experts, while anyone can be a contestant. They should mail their works to the organizing committee in Xi'an, Shaanxi's provincial capital, before Sept 10 or submit them on websites that have partnered with the festival, such as Youku.com, Tudou.com and Sohu.com.

An awards ceremony will be held in October in Xi'an.

Donnie Yen dives headfirst into charitable work

Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen recently became honorary president of Guangcai Mingtian Children's Ophthalmology Hospital.

He took the position at the invitation of the All-China Women's Federation and the China Children and Teenagers' Fund.

The kungfu star will call attention to children's eye care. Yen says he has noticed many children use computers, which is bad for their eyes. "My two kids also wear glasses. I can understand the inconvenience," Yen says.

Yen says he will devote more time to charity in the coming year and wishes more stars would do the same.

Freelancer takes top spot in design competition

Freelance designer Cao Yupei won the first prize in the 3rd Changshu Cup Fashion Design Competition, which concluded at the end of May. His designs capture the latest trends in China's eastern metropolises. Cao's qipao-like dresses are modern yet still reveal women's traditional elegance.

The small city of Changshu in Jiangsu province is famous for its textile and garment industries. Organized by the Changshu municipal government and the China Fashion Association, the contest received more than 1,500 sketches from 50 organizations, making it one of the country's top fashion design competitions.

Dragon and Great Wall cultures to be celebrated

The 1st International Chinese Dragon Culture Festival opened at the Wangjing Cultural Square in Beijing's Badaling Great Wall Resort.

At the opening ceremony, celebrated Great Wall researcher Luo Zhewen introduced the history and cultural implications of the dragon.

Chinese dragons - the gods of rain according to traditional beliefs - have remained totems since ancient times. Dragon culture has long been an important part of Great Wall culture, as the bulwark snakes through China like a giant dragon.

During the three-month festival, 18 dragon dance teams from cities and villages along the Wall will compete at the Badaling Great Wall.

The festival will also feature a summit forum on the protection and development of world cultural heritage that will be attended by UNESCO experts and representatives of China's world culture heritage sites. A series of folk culture activities, including exhibitions that promote China's intangible cultural heritage, will also be staged.

China Daily