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Fundraiser to benefit rural students

By in News on

Students at the elementary school in Bangdong Village
Students at the elementary school in Bangdong Village

Local fashion, up-and-coming Yunnan artists and live music will converge at Loft Jinding 1919 on March 3, with funds raised going toward rural education programs.

The fundraising event for Village Progress will begin with a fashion show at 4pm at Livstone House by local designer Shi Zhijie (石志洁). The show will feature her clothing brand Blue Nomadism. Items featured in the show will be available for purchase afterward.

A silent auction of artwork donated by prominent Yunnan artists will follow the fashion show. Artists whose work will be auctioned include Zhao Rongjie (赵荣洁), Liu Lifen (刘丽芬), Yang Yang (杨阳), Quan Wan (犬丸), Chen Xi (陈曦), Zhao Leiming (赵磊明) and Weicheng Luanma (维城乱马).

An evening of rock, reggae and dance music will begin at Laba at 9:30. Performers – all of whom are donating their time and talents – include War Horse, Sea Loving Mammals, Lao Han's Reggae Band and Mike Wind. The Laba portion of the fundraiser will be hosted by Kris Ariel, who will also play a DJ set.

Village Progress has organized the fundraising event to support its Multimedia Education Project in villages around Lincang Prefecture. The initial goal of the project is to provide art and multimedia training to underprivileged children in Bangdong Village (邦东村).

There are nearly 200 students at Bangdong's only elementary school, which has limited access to funds, equipment and educational materials. The Village Progress program will teach students how to operate donated cameras as well as how to use their photos to make a school newspaper. Painting and art supplies will also be donated to the school and volunteers from Kunming will teach classes on how to paint and work with textiles.

Village Progress co-founder and GoKunming contributor Colin Flahive said that money raised at the event will be used to establish a multimedia resource center at the school.

The resource center will house books, computers, cameras and other art resources collected from Kunming schools, donor programs and grants. The program will be expanded to other villages as soon as sufficient funds have been raised.

Tickets purchased the day of the Village Progress fundraising event will be 15 yuan for the fashion show and auction and 30 yuan for the concert. All-inclusive advance tickets can be purchased for 30 yuan at Salvador's Coffee House.

Note: Scotch on the Rocks was originally slated to perform at the fundraising event but will be unable to perform.

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Comments

Just when I thought that this fundraiser couldn't get any better, it did. Sandra has signed on to handle food and drinks for the event.

[UNF]

In Sandra, we trust! What lovely news!

Everyone I have talked to and met lately is aware of this event, and coming together to give their support.

It will be a fun and interesting day with the art auction and fashion show in the afternoon, and the music at night.

Thanks, Colin and Sandra — and everyone — for all that you are doing!

Nevada

I had a sneak preview of some of the art going on display tomorrow and there some impressive works going on the wall. I'd suggest getting there at 4 to see the fashion show and get first dibs on art pieces. Sandra's treats too will be worth making the trip.

[UNF]

Tonight is the BIG night in Kunming, Yunnan, China.

Artists, fashion designers, musicians, DJ Xiao Kris, Sandra and Salvador's and many others are donating their time and efforts for the benefit to promote and continue art education programs in the poor villages of central and southern Yunnan province. We are are so proud, and humbled to part of this effort.

Fashion and Art starts 4pm. Music and entertainment 9:30pm. LABA.
30 yuan entrance. Please tell everyone to show up an give their support.

We're gonna have a lot of fun!

Even with the terrible weather, what a sweet event that turned out to be. Thanks to all of the artists for their donations. Thanks to the musicians for their music. Thanks to Livstone and Laba for donating the spaces. And thanks to all of you for your overwhelming generosity. We raised over 20,000 yesterday which was far beyond our expectations. We will make sure that all of the donations go to provide village schools with artistic and creative opportunities that they would otherwise not receive. Kunming rocks.

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