Business Traveller Charity Auction 2013

The Chi Heng Foundation works with villages in rural central China to support the thousands of innocent children coping with at least one parent who is living with, or has died of, HIV/AIDS since 2002. Many of these cases are the result of illegal blood selling made by people in desperate situations, and then transfused with virus-carrying, reused needles in 1980s. For the eighth year running, Business Traveller

Asia-Pacific is partnering with the foundation in the annual Silent Auction to raise the funds needed to support these AIDS-impacted youngsters.

During the 2012-13 school year, Chi Heng sponsored about 9,000 of these kids, providing them with everyday essentials and educational support. In the coming year, the organisation wants to reach a total of 10,000, mostly through expanding further into central and southwestern China.

Last year, the organisation increased the quality of the reading material in these economically disenfranchised areas by expanding the Reading Room project extensively in Anhui and Henan Provinces, and it is planning to broaden the project to Yunnan.

Chi Heng also provides psychological and social support to these vulnerable children. Art counselling is a key method used to foster the creative expression of thoughts and feelings that an individual may be unable, or unwilling, to verbalise. The art team of Chi Heng organises such activities in its summer camps.

Every year, the foundation selects AIDS-impacted children with good academic records to join the summer camps, which are located in big cities, thereby broadening their horizons and building up their aspirations for university studies and future careers.

We believe that this cause deserves our support, and by bidding on the Silent Auction packages so generously donated by our industry friends you will not only be purchasing a treat for yourself at a special price, but also contributing to the betterment of these young lives that have had a rough start.

This is the third and fourth phase of the Charity Auction – so keep your eyes peeled for attractive stays in cities or destinations you will be visiting, or want to visit. Then simply place your bid on www.businesstraveller.asia/auction and wait for the auction action to begin.