Atlanta Kids to Cheer Up Chinese Earthquake Children

Boys & Girls Club kids bring gifts on their trip to China to open 66-country youth art exhibition

May 27, 2008

ATLANTA (May 27, 2008) – Eight teenage members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta will travel to China on May 30 bearing gifts and art supplies for kids affected by the earthquake tragedy. They will also participate in the opening ceremonies of a 66-country youth art exhibition, "Peace, Friendship, and Goodwill through the Olympic Spirit", organized by Youth Art Connection, the arts and cultural education division of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. The exhibition will be in Beijing's prestigious National Millennium Monument Museum and will open on June 1, National Children's Day in China. During the Olympic Games in August, the paintings will be on display in the Beijing Olympics Global Youth Camp.

The Atlanta group will work on an art project with fellow young artists in Beijing, and will spend two weeks sightseeing and meeting kids in other areas of China.  "I'm really looking forward to climbing the big wall and seeing those warrior guys in Xi'an", exclaimed Cedric Brown, who has been studying about China's history   and culture along with his traveling companions for several months.  

The group will later serve as guides for other Atlanta students who will visit the High Museum's exhibition of Terra Cotta Warriors in November. Georgia Public Broadcasting will arrange for transmissions of personal blogs back to Atlanta during the adventure.

"We want our Club members to know firsthand what's going on in the world and to learn about other cultures,” said Youth Art Connection's director, Rebecca Des Marais.

"Our International Paint Pals initiative opens global doors through artwork exchanges and personal visits,” Paint Pals coordinator Linden Longino agrees. "Everybody understands the universal language of art. If young people get to know each other now, it may be a more peaceful world in the future."

Photos of the exhibition paintings may be seen at www.paintpals.org

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO ATLANTA

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta operates 24 Clubs in 12 metro counties in addition to Camp Kiwanis and Youth Art Connection, a gallery and workspace for young artists. A trained and professional staff serves more than 17,000 youth annually by offering specialized programming and a safe haven for at-risk and underprivileged children and teens. Memberships cost only $35 per school year but scholarships are available for those who need assistance. For more information, please visit www.bgcma.org.