The story began in 1996.

A powerful magnitude-7 earthquake occurred in Lijiang, Yunnan Province on 3 February 1996. In order to help children in the disaster areas return to school as soon as possible, the teachers and students at Yew Chung International School (YCIS) of Hong Kong raised 600,000 yuan RMB to construct the "Yew Chung Teaching Building" in Lijiang.

In response to the devastating magnitude-8 earthquake that struck Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, on 12 May 2008, YCIS once again acted promptly and raised HK$1.5 million for the reconstruction of primary school in Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province.

According to Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO and School Supervisor of the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network (YCYW), what we give children is not limited to material possessions. Our most important gifts to children are faith, hope, and love.

Education is the nurturing of human souls. By extending and passing on acts of kindness to others, Yew Chung and Yew Wah students cultivate empathy and gratitude within themselves, and become people of good character.

In 2011, YCYW officially established "Seeds of Hope" as a regular charity project  to raise funds for schools in impoverished areas and offer education and hope to children. To date, the project has supported the building of eight schools.

In 2022, YCIS Shanghai launched the Seeds of Hope Annual Fund to facilitate innovative exploratory learning and social service projects for teachers and students in addition to the standard curriculum. Through various service-learning projects, students undergo their own transformative journeys, shifting their perspectives from "me" to "we" in the real world.

So how does all of this relate to a concert?

Unlike other charity events, a distinctive fundraising channels for Seeds of Hope is through an annual concert that is composed, directed, and performed by YCYW teachers and students.

"Aligning with Culture and Arts" and "Aligning with Love and Charity" are part of the YCYW mission. We believe music can nourish the hearts of children and bring happiness to their lives. The Seeds of Hope Concert showcases the talents and joy of the students, transmitting positive power to more people through their music.

Since 2011, we have held an annual charity concert in various cities, including at the Qingdao Grand Theatre in Shandong in 2011, at the Central Conservatory of Music Concert Hall in Beijing in 2012, and at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Jockey Club Auditorium in 2013. Each year, all proceeds from ticket sales go entirely towards donations to the Seeds of Hope project.

From 2020 to 2023, the pandemic forced us to suspend the concerts for four years.

After four years of waiting, we are excited to announce that the Seeds of Hope Concert will make a highly anticipated return this March!

The 2023-24 school year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of YCIS Shanghai, the first Yew Chung International School in the Chinese mainland. The Seeds of Hope Concert 2024 will take place in Shanghai to celebrate this 30th-anniversary milestone in a meaningful way.

On 16 March 2024, more than 200 students from across various Yew Chung and Yew Wah campuses worldwide will gather at the Shanghai Opera House, a cultural landmark in Shanghai. The students will showcase their talents by presenting instrumental solos, orchestral and choral music, and other exceptional performances. Outstanding alumni musicians will also perform.

We sincerely hope that you will join us at this spring concert, where melodies and emotions will convey beliefs and hopes about education.