Yang's program taps into creativity of migrant children

Yang Lan [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

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Yang Lan, one of the country's most famous faces and dubbed China's answer to Oprah Winfrey, reviewed the success of the Growing in the Sunshine program at an event in Beijing at the weekend.

The charity was launched in 2007 to give migrant teenagers in Beijing an appreciation and exposure to art. According to numbers released by the Sun Culture Foundation, which Yang and her husband Wu Zheng founded in 2005, more than 30,000 migrant children in Beijing have participated in art educational programs, such as dance, painting and music.

At the event, Yang invited migrant students from Yuquanlu Primary School, in Shijingshan district, to perform the song, Look to Your Path from the movie, The Chorus.

This was followed by migrant students from Luyuan School of Chaoyang District performing a percussion show with various instruments.

The event also put artworks, painted by migrants students, up for auction.

This was a huge success as more than 6 million yuan ($978,000) was raised.

The proceeds will be used in the Growing in the Sunshine art educational programs in 2014.

"The transitional period of Chinese society is likely to incur major social problems, which including the integration of the second and third-generation migrant population into urban cities. As teenagers are exposed to enormous information, they are likely to be the most sensitive and vulnerable group, and they deserve much more attention and care," said Yang, 45.

"We are glad to see many students enjoying the programs we offered and I hope that what they learned will play a significant role in their future."