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2010-04-01  The Star  Singer-actor Nicholas Teo who is World Vision Malaysia’s 30-Hour Famine 2010 ambassador brings hope to the needy



NICHOLAS Teo feels that celebrities and media personalities should do their bit to promote charity work and influence others to join them

The Taiwan-based singer-actor took time off from his busy schedule to launch World Vision Malaysia’s 30-Hour Famine as its 2010 ambassador last week.

the press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Teo said he hoped that more people would be made aware of the basic issues of urban poverty, develop empathy for the needy while they experience hunger and understand what a difference they can make.

“I hope that together we can make a joint effort to spread the word and encourage others to be charitable and participate in meaningful activities,” said Teo, who is starting work on his next Mandarin album and mulling over scripts for some Taiwanese TV dramas.

Looking tanned, the Kuching-born artiste said he had just returned from a five-day World Vision trip to Ba Thouc, Vietnam. “I felt the need to experience life there and understand what needs to be done before I could relay the message properly and offer my help to others.”

He also took the opportunity to visit one of the children he sponsors, a nine-year-old girl named Bui Thi Thuy. “I brought some gifts for Thuy when I paid her a visit in Ba Thouc last week,” shared the personable singer whose Vietnam trip is titled World Vision – Nicholas Teo Thankful Journey.

Teo has been a child sponsor with World Vision Malaysia since 2007 and is sponsoring six children, aged four to 14, from China, Vietnam, South Africa, India and Indonesia.

The 28-year-old singer also lends his support to World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine by performing at the Famine countdown to be held from noon to 4pm on Aug 22 at Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil. The official Famine weekend is Aug 21 and 22.

Participants of the 30-Hour Famine raise funds to transform hunger into hope by pledging to go without solid food for 30 hours. During their fast, they undertake various activities, while learning global issues. Co-organised by World Vision Malaysia, Sin Chew Daily and Help University, the 30-Hour Famine includes a spin-off officially called the 8-Hour Famine for Kids, which is a special eight-hour fast for children aged four to 12.

Themed Light Up Their Life, this year’s event aims to raise RM1mil for local and international projects, including The Street Children and Drop-In Centre projects in Myanmar and Thailand, Factory Workers’ HIV/AIDs Education Project in China, the Shemariah Foster Home for Children, Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled and the Yayasan Sin Chew Retirement Village.

World Vision Malaysia (WVM) was set up in 1997 as the supporting arm of World Vision International, a global Christian humanitarian, relief and development organisation working for the well being of all, especially children.

World Vision – Nicholas Teo Thankful Journey will air on Jia Yu TV (Astro channel 304) on May 8 at 9pm.