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Hong Kong, 11 January 2015 – The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) held the ‘Little Artists Big Dreams Drawing Competition’ this afternoon to raise funds for the 22nd China Children’s Week (CCW). The event attracted nearly 2,000 children to portray their dreams for better world at Victoria Park and raise funds to support UNICEF’s work on maternal and child health services in deprived areas of China. Together with the HK$2 million donations from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, there were more than HK$2.29 million raised.

UNICEF HK has recently celeated the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention states clearly that every child has the right to survival and healthy development. Yet, every year, in China, nearly 125,000 children cannot live longer than 28 days due to three main reasons - premature birth, suffocation and pneumonia. The situation is even worse in remote areas. With appropriate medical and healthcare services, over 75% of deaths are preventable.

In the ceremony, Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK shared the story of Ji Duo, a mother of two who has received support from UNICEF’s programme. Ji Duo and her family live on a big mountain. She used not to know the importance of maternal care, and because of the high transportation fee to go to town hospital, she had never received any antenatal checkup, and even gave her first baby at home. Ji Duo experienced severe blood loss when giving birth and took a long time to recover. Luckily, for the second baby, Ji Duo joined UNICEF’s ‘Cash Transfers for Deprived Children’ Project. With the cash subsidy offered from the programme, she could afford to have health checkups and deliver her child in the hospital. Now both Ji Duo and the baby are living healthily.

Ms Chen said, “With the support from nearly 2,000 little artists, their parents and the volunteers here, we can help more needy families like Ji Duo.” She hopes more Hong Kong people, especially the next generation, understand the problems and potential health risks facing mothers and children in deprived areas in China, support the needy to improve lives and realize the goal of ‘ZERO Child Suffering’ together.

Dr Ko Wing-man, Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region once again supported the event and cheered up for the little artists who spread the spirit of 'kids helping kids' this year, by officiating the ceremony.

As the event major sponsor, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (Chow Tai Fook) has supported the CCW ‘Little Artists Big Dreams Drawing Competition’ for the third consecutive year. The Group donated HK$2 million to CCW, and tailor-made a limited Chow Tai Fook x UNICEF HK 925 silver badge in painting plate style and 999.9 pure gold photo greeting card*, to encourage the public to contribute more donation to support the needy families. For the first time, the Group will launch a special product inspired by the concept of the artwork of the competition’s overall champion for charity sale online. These proceeds will able to ing maternal and child health services reach more deprived women and children through the ‘Cash Transfers for Deprived Children’ Project.

Mr Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited said, “Since 2013, we have donated HK$2 million every year to support the Project for consecutive three years. This year, we further extend our support by designing a special product for charity sale, and at the same time, encourage Chow Tai Fook members, eShop customers and all staff to join and raise funds. We hope the living standard of children in Mainland China could be improved.” Since 2013, ‘Little Artists Big Dreams Drawing Competition’ raises funds to support UNICEF’s ‘Cash Transfers for Deprived Children’ Project in China. Pregnant women in the 15 provinces in Yunnan, Gansu and Sichuan can receive a cash subsidy as an incentive to get medical care for themselves and their babies, such as antenatal and postnatal checkup, giving birth in hospital and immunisation for infants. As of November, 7,320 mothers and their children aged below 1 have joined the Project.

‘China Children’s Week 2015 – Little Artists Big Dreams Drawing Competition’ has come to the eighth year. The Competition divides participants into three age groups, each with first, second and third prize, 20 consolation prizes, as well as ‘Online Most Popular Award’. From 19 January, the public can vote for their more favourite art pieces by visiting “UNICEF Hong Kong” Facebook page. Results will be announced on UNICEF website (unicef.org.hk) from 9 Feuary onwards.

Besides, the ‘Little Artists Big Dreams Drawing Competition’, UNICEF HK also starts the ‘Red Packet Charity Sales’ today at Victoria Park. The public can support the ‘Red Packet Charity Sales’ every weekend at selected MTR stations and shopping malls until 1 Feuary, to donate to the 'Cash Transfers for Deprived Children’ Project.

Since 1993, CCW accumulatively raised over HK$110 million to facilitate children’s welfare in China, including polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus eradication and support for children in poverty etc. * Receive a free Chow Tai Fook 999.9 pure gold photo greeting card (5R, valued HK$1,500) upon donating HK$1,275 or above; a free Chow Tai Fook x UNICEF HK 925 Silver Badge in painting plate style upon donating HK$500 to HK$1,274.99. - End -