YCIS Shanghai students barely paused over the Christmas holidays before kicking off 2011 with another charitable cause.

YCIS Shanghai students barely paused over the Christmas holidays before kicking off 2011 with another charitable cause. The Arts and Charity Extravaganza (ACE), organised by Community Center Shanghai to enrich international school students’ experience in Shanghai through community service, was held in Obama Club this month and was well attended by international schools in Shanghai. The event was buzzing with activities all afternoon, from band performances to dancing to a huge fashion show. “The idea was that everyone in attendance could vote on his or her favourite piece of art, band, and so on,” says YCIS Shanghai Art teacher Joseph Sein.

Year 10 student Siu Wing Yee’s artwork won the People’s Choice Award for favourite art piece, a proud moment for everyone at YCIS Shanghai as there were a great number of quality artwork on display and YCIS Shanghai’s small delegation was outnumbered by representatives from other schools. “The odds were against us,” says Mr. Sein.  “Personally I am not a big fan of art contests but in this case I am glad to make an exception. (Wing Yee's work) is a very free and personal interpretation of the IGCSE theme ‘Double Portrait’ and requires some taste and time to appreciate…I loved it from the very beginning.”

The goal of ACE was to raise RMB 80,000 yuan for a small library/classroom for Chi Heng Foundation, whose mission is to create a harmonious, equal, and healthy society by funding and operating projects in education and care for children and adults impacted by AIDS.