Charities
Her Story
In 2002, Dawn Kwan visited the orphanages and hospitals in Ho Chi Minh at age 5 on a trip entitled “Children With A Mission” organised by St. Andrew’s Cathedral. During the trip, she was touched, and even traumatised, when she saw the suffering of impoverished and ill Vietnamese children. So began the birthing of a vision and a journey. Having discovered her talent in painting, she feels that she is blessed to be a blessing.
In 2005, at age 8, four of Dawn’s paintings were auctioned for S$15,000. The same year in November, she made a second trip back to Vietnam, this time to Hanoi, to witness the surgery and distribution of wheelchairs in the provinces, as a result of her sacrificial sowing.
At 9, she persevered in her donations even though distressed to give her treasured hard work away. This time, her paintings were auctioned for over $40,000. All the proceeds were donated for the surgery of harelipped, club-feet, burnt and terminally-ill Vietnamese children.
In September 2006, Dawn helped raise over S$30,000 for the families and children of ex-drug offenders in The New Charis Mission, a halfway house in Singapore. Her works have also been exhibited and auctioned by the Arts House for the benefit of the Business Times Budding Artists Fund which helps less fortunate children in the development of artistic talents.
In November 2006, she is one of ten personalities to donate one personal item (her painting) for Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF) 10th Anniversary Charity Auction 2006.
Dawn hopes that her story can touch the lives of people that little hands with a heart of compassion can refresh the weary and downtrodden.
Excellence With Purpose
Currently, besides financial contributions, Dawn has also participated in mission trips with International Christian Mission Singapore (ICMS) on a personal basis. Using her artistic talents and puppetry as medium of communication, she taught art to reach out to young orphans in Sri Lanka’s orphanages and distributed gifts and food to them.