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“To do good and to make things better for all”- Robert Chen
The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation is a Hong Kong based grant-making institution established in 2003, with a strategic focus on improving early childhood literacy, through the development of libraries and the promotion of reading programs. To date, the Foundation has helped support the construction of libraries and reading programs for children in high-need areas of Mainland China, Hong Kong, and West Africa
In the course of work promoting children's reading and literacy, the Foundation found a distinct lack of original illustrated children's book in Chinese, with the market disproportionately dominated by translated work. On July 21-22, 2008, the Foundation co-sponsored a conference, "The First International Feng Zikai Forum on Children's Picture Books," to discuss these issues. Co-sponsored by Bring Me a Book Hong Kong and the support of Mrs. Daisy Chen, the Feng Zikai Award was established to promote the creation of Chinese-language children's literature, and recognize the most excellent writers, authors, and publishers of Chinese children's picture books.
The first award ceremonies were held on July 22, 2009 in Hong Kong. A panel of eight judges drawn from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States reviewed over 330 entries, selecting the top award winners. $20,000 USD was awarded to the top award winner, $10,000 USD to two winners recognized for artistic and literary excellence, and $1,000 USD to the shortlist of finalists. The award organizations purchased 3000 copies of the top award winner, to donate to libraries, schools, and educational institutions.
The Feng Zikai Award is the first international Chinese children's picture book award. We hope to continually encourage more investment in creative talent, and help promote the publication and wide distribution of high-quality, Chinese children's picture books and their importance in childhood literacy.
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