By Alan Green
The British Embassy in Seoul will hold its annual BBC Children in Need quiz and raffle on Nov. 4. This year’s event will also have a Halloween theme. It will be held at the embassy’s Broughton’s Bar and the night will feature a family quiz, raffle, auction and lots of fun games for children.
BBC Children in Need was launched in the United Kingdom in 1980 and the charity appeal has been held every year since, raising over 500 million pounds. The charity’s vision is that every child has a childhood which is safe, happy and secure and allows them a chance to reach their potential. It gives grants to projects which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged.
Over the past three years this night, the British Embassy has raised over 15 million won for children's charities in the United Kingdom and Korea, donating to the Myongdo Services for Children with Disabilities and the SungRoWon Orphanage. The aim of this event is to lift the combined total to over 20 million won.
This year, 50 percent of the money raised will go to the Hwasung Center in Korea. The center mostly provides homes for orphaned children, from babies to teenagers. It also takes in children whose parents cannot care for due to financial difficulties. They live in the center until they can be re-united with their families. There are four homes with six rooms and 12 to 15 children share a home with two or three in each room.
According to the organizers there are some great prizes to be won this year, including a signed Sunderland shirt from Korean footballer Ji Dong-Won who plays with the English team. Generous donations have also been made by Adidas, Piper Heidsieck, Hyatt Hotel, Hyatt Spa, JW Marriott Hotel, Nanta and the Hilton Hotel among others.
Sponsorship for this event is provided by Standard Chartered First Bank.
Admissions cost 15,000 won for adults and 10,000 won for children and includes food, entry into the quiz and children’s games.
For more information, contact event organizer Carla Schmitz at carlaschmitz@gmail.com